This is a presentation given to an enthusiastic lot who wanted to know more about home composting. It is an attempt to show the effects of kitchen waste in the global warming process, why we need to compost and where space is a constraint. Home composting is a small effort by an individual, where the big rewards are collectively reaped by the entire community and the world at large.

1. GARBAGE – OSTRICH EFFECT?
SMALL EFFORT BIG REWARDS

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4. Environmental pollution
 Garbage to landfills
 Household contribution to landfills
 Lets not have our head in the sand and deny this
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5. Environmental pollution
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Garbage
Household
waste
Bio-
degradable
Kitchen
waste

6. What is kitchen waste ?
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7. Kitchen waste
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kitchen waste
It composts there – right?
WRONG
garbage landfill

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9. What happens in a landfill?
• Anaerobic digestion
• Decomposition in an airless environment
• Produces Methane (CH4) = a greenhouse gas 21 times more
harmful than CO2.
• Compost contamination
• Nothing will grow as it will be contaminated
• Leachates / Heavy Metals (Pb, Cr, Cd) , Soluble Salts (Chloride,
Nitrate, Sulfate)
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11. Why should we compost?
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12. Why should we compost ?
Waste less water since compost
helps with moisture retention
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Keeps a valuable
resource out of the
landfill.

13. Why should we compost ?
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Reduce civic costs for waste
collection and thereby reduce fuel use
Extend the life of
landfills
Remember residential waste is 40%
compostable materials.

14. Why should we compost in Kuwait?
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Lasting legacy
Cultivate a habit
Educate Kids

15. What’s stopping us?
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20. Do and Don’ts
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21. Compost pile
Yes No
Fruit and vegetable peels Meat, bones, chicken, fish
Flowers Cat or dog manure
Paper (finely chopped) Painted or treated wood
Wood Ash Oil, Mayonnaise
Coffee and Tea waste Plastics
Old Potting Soil Textiles
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22. Gray water
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23. Duration
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Week 1
• Collect waste
• Sandwich waste
and soil
• Aerate
Week 2-6
• Keep moist
• Sprinkle gray
water
Week 6-12
• Churn the
mixture
• Twice a week
Week 12+
• Remove weeds
• Compost ready
How long does it take?

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How long does it take?

26. When is it ready ?
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When is it ready ?
Dark, rich color, crumbles easily
Can’t pick out original ingredients
Earthy smell

28. My experiences
challenges and rewards
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@ Riggae
Small balcony
Stack the
pots one top
of another

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@ Block 12 Salmiya
Use the stairs

31. Layering or the
sandwich method
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Layering or the sandwich method
Peat + base soil
Fruit / veg waste
Wood ash + paper
Fruit / veg / flowers
Greens /
Nitrogen
Browns /
Carbon
Peat + base soil

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Bore holes for aerobic composting process

34. What plant varieties
does compost support?
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Indoor and Outdoor

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Indoor and Outdoor

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Indoor and Outdoor

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Indoor and Outdoor

39. How to start ?
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Gopal M:+965-97223659
Whatsapp / Viber
agkrish@skype