Our compost
Composting is an aerobic bio-oxidative process that breaks down organic matter. It is driven by microorganisms that occur naturally in the environment and fall into three main groups: bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi.
The key players
Bacteria
They produce most of the heat during decomposition. They are fast decomposers, able to use the most easily degradable substances and the intermediate products of fungal metabolism.
Actinomycetes
They break down complex substances such as proteins, cellulose, hemicellulose, chitin and lignin, and they give mature compost its typical earthy smell.
Fungi
They break down complex molecules such as waxes, hemicellulose, pectin and lignin, making intermediate products available to bacteria that they could not otherwise degrade.
How we make it
The industrial composting process at our plant reproduces, in less time, the natural humification that takes place in the undergrowth. The process is controlled to support the natural mineralisation and humification of organic matter, so that the result is a biologically stable and mature product.
Our raw materials are exclusively landscaping and garden waste (branches, leaves and grass), which is shredded and then composted.
The production cycle
Our compost is made in two stages: active transformation outdoors, followed by a long maturation.
- 40–50 daysof bio-oxidation
- 65–70 °Cin the fermenting mass
- ≥ 6 monthsof maturation, at the least
1. Active transformation or bio-oxidation
This first stage starts with a mesophilic phase, in which microorganisms colonise the mass, followed by a thermophilic phase of intense bio-oxidation. Easily fermentable organic molecules such as simple sugars, amino acids and organic acids are broken down first; more complex molecules follow.
Bio-oxidation lasts 40–50 days on average and takes place outdoors in dedicated bays, where the material is laid out in piles that are turned regularly with a loader. Turning mixes the material, reduces its particle size and restores the porosity of the mass: thanks to the cyclical change of oxygen inside the pile, the material stabilises evenly.
The high temperatures reached in the fermenting mass, 65–70 °C, fully sanitise the material, eliminating pathogens, weed seeds and any phytotoxic elements.
2. Curing or maturation
This second stage is called static because the mass is no longer turned. It is preceded by a first mechanical sorting that removes part of the woody material that has not yet decomposed, which goes back to the start of the process, and any non-compostable components (plastic, metal, glass).
This long maturation, at least six months, leads to a particularly advanced humification of the organic matter and gives an extremely stable product with a high content of humified organic matter (humic and fulvic acids).
Before sale, the compost goes through further mechanical sorting and screening, to obtain an extremely clean and uniform material.
Quality and environment
A soil improver made from selected green waste, checked throughout production.
Quality
Under Italian fertiliser law, the compost made by Ecocentro Trieste is classified as a “green composted soil improver” (ammendante compostato verde, Legislative Decree 75/2010): it comes solely from recovered branches, leaves and grass. By definition, a soil improver is a material added to the soil in situ mainly to maintain or improve its physical or chemical characteristics or its biological activity.
Our compost is obtained through a controlled process of transformation and stabilisation of landscaping waste, selected according to tree species. Selected raw materials and technologically advanced equipment guarantee the excellent quality of our growing media.
For the potting soils, peats are selected for their structure, calibrated and mixed with the other raw materials. The product is tested for quality throughout production and formulated for a wide range of uses.
Once it has passed the quality tests, the product is bagged and stored on pallets, ready to go straight to the end customer.
Care for the environment
Since it was founded in 2009, Ecocentro Trieste has set out to work as consciously and responsibly as possible towards the environment and society, committing to make its work ever more sustainable and efficient.
On the product side, working with local testing laboratories, our technical team has spent years developing a range of environmentally friendly, high-performance growing media.
We also work to keep the environmental impact of our soil packaging to a minimum: when conditions allow, we prefer to supply the material in bulk, including in big bags.
Uses
Our compost works very well as a fertiliser and soil improver in many sectors.
Trees and shrubs
Used before planting trees and shrubs, then worked into the soil with shallow tillage to a depth of 20 cm.
Gardens and flower beds
An excellent base dressing before sowing or transplanting: dig or hoe it into the top 10–20 cm of soil.
Vegetable gardens
For base dressing of soil for vegetable crops: spread it before sowing or transplanting and work it into the top layers.
Lawns
For reseeding a lawn, mixed with sand or soil (30–40% compost).