Return to Appendices

APPENDIX B -- THE COMPOSTING HANDBOOK

TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMON FEEDSTOCKS -- MOISTURE, C, N, BULK DENSITY

Latest revision: December 20, 2021

Example Feedstock Characteristics -- Total N, Total C, C/N, moisture and bulk density

Compiled by: Jorge Montezuma, Atlas Organics; Cary Oshins, U.S. Composting Council; Andy Bary, Washington State University; and Robert Rynk, SUNY Cobleskill

The following hyperlink connects to a spreadsheet that lists a variety of composting feedstocks and laboratory analysis of their Total N, Total C, %moisture, and bulk density. These characteristics are especially relevant for judging the suitability of feedstocks for composting and for mathematically developing composting feedstock recipes based on moisture content and C:N ratio.

This list was compiled from a variety of sources, beginning with Appendix A of the On-Farm Composting Handbook (OFCH). Other sources include Washington State University, data reported in literature, data supplied by professional laboratories and composting facilities, and analysis conducted for CREF’s Compost Operator Training Courses (COTC),

This list will be regularly updated as additional analysis are identified. If you have suggestions for additions or corrections, please email CREF at info@compostfoundation.org. Type “TCH Appendix B” in the subject line of the email. Please include the source of the information that you are suggesting. Thank you.

***