New Composting method by a Sri Lankan

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"A new composting method has been invented by a proud Sri Lankan. The successor Mr. Nadula Abeysinghe has obtained Sri Lankan patent number 15714 for his invention. He has successfully applied this system among many businesses in the country. The well reputed Maliban Group is one of them. SAHANA TECH is the brand name of Nadula's system. This article will brief Nadula's success story.........."

New Technology for Mixing and Storage of Organic Compost Matters


Compost forms as a result of the natural breakdown of biodegradable organic material derived from living animals and plants. The "breaking down" is aerobic. That is an oxygen using process performed by the bacteria, fungi, insects and animals, which inhabit in soil. In a compost heap these organisms generate heat as they decompose organic matter and break it into fine particles. Composting is nature's own and oldest method of waste disposal and soil fertilization. 

Composting is a well‐known process in which organic matter is converted into humus by micro-organisms that consume the organic matter. These micro-organisms are aerobic, requiring oxygen to live, and thrive in warm environment. When compost matter becomes wet, the density of the compost matter increases and ventilation is reduced. Therefore, weather changes such as temperature drop or rain will make it difficult for the micro-organisms to live. Thus, composting by leaving heaps of exposed organic matter to decay is inefficient and time‐consuming. Compost containers have been designed to protect the compost matter and prolong the life of the micro-organisms, thereby providing more efficient breakdown of the organic matter. At present, three methods of composting are generally used throughout the world. They are windrows method, backyard com posters or bins and machinery composting. The selection of specific method is site dependent. If there is an adequate land available as in rural areas the windrow method is applicable. In urban areas backyard com posters or bins are more appropriate.

New Composting Method: This composter successfully established in the premises of  Maliban Buscuits  at Ratmalana, Sri Lanka. Observer in the pix is the proud Sri Lankan, Nasula Abeysinghe who is the inventor. 

Successful out come of the new composting method

Technology in Composting throughout world

a) Low  Tech ‐ Windrow System

b) Middle Tech 
              ‐ Aerated Static Pile System 
              ‐ Aerated Compost Bins (Container composting)

c) High Tech (In‐Vessel) 
              ‐ Rotary Drum Com posters

              ‐ Box or Tunnel Composting Systems

              ‐ Mechanical Compost Bins

Conventional composters are single‐walled containers of, for example, plastic or wood, that are generally cylindrical or cube shaped and include openings in the container walls to allow venting of the compost matter. The top cover of these composters is opened by lifting and removing, or by lifting and rotating the cover about hinges that are attached to the sidewall. These composters are used to protect the micro-organisms by providing a shelter from heavy rain while allowing venting of the compost environment. It will be appreciated, however, that the conventional single-walled composters provide only marginal insulating of the compost material from temperature changes and, in particular, cool temperatures. Also, conventional composters are unsightly boxes or cylinders and thus it is generally desirable to hide these conventional composters out of sight. This discourages composting as many people do not want such an unsightly composter in a yard or, alternatively, place the com poster in a hidden location that is difficult to access. Most important requirement for effective composting is frequent mixing. Because of heat transfer limitations, the center of the compost pile can become extremely hot. If it gets too hot, the micro-organisms responsible for the decomposition process will die, the pile will cool, and the whole process will have to start over. Frequent turning and mixing of the pile helps to prevent the overheating problem. Additionally, since the temperature in unturned compost will be uneven, that is hotter toward the middle of the pile, composting rates will vary throughout the pile. Due to heat loss around the margins, only the central portion of the pile is at the optimum temperature. The pile should be turned so that material which is on the outside is moved to the center. 

Final successive out come of compost which is ready for the use of plantation. 

In this way, all the material will reach optimum temperatures at various times. Compost mixing helps to achieve the objective of aeration, which is necessary for effective composting. The objective of aerating the compost competes with the objective of heat containment. If too much non‐porous insulation is put around the compost pile to retain heat, it will prevent aeration and suffocate the composting process. On the other hand, if too much external air access is provided, the retained heat will readily escape. Most prior com posters suffer from one of these two problems. Nevertheless, com posters require some mixing in order to adequately aerate the inner portions of the compost. Many prior com posters are not designed to allow efficient mixing. One attempt to solve this problem involves providing a door or slat on the side of the compost container. However, this design only facilitates mixing of biodegradable matter with the help of gravity force while inserting the biodegradable matters from upper chamber to lower chamber. Composting is one means of reducing the problems associated with landfills, incinerators, and other waste disposal methods. In urban areas, the dense concentration of business, industry, and housing results in large quantities of waste being generated in a relatively small geographic area, which creates unique opportunities for recovery. According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in Sri Lanka on the composition of the municipal garbage, has revealed that more than 50% of the garbage is consists of biodegradable parts. Quantity of the garbage which is disposed daily by the people can be reduced at least up to 50% through motivating them to make compost using biodegradable parts. Barrel method is the most easiest method to form compost by using short term bio‐degradable waste. This method is quite sufficient for ordinary houses but not for Flats, Hostels and Army camps etc. Because there is no enough space in such places for other methods as windrow method can not be performed.

Patent Certificate of Nadula's invention

Specifications of the invention

* The composting container available at the market (both local and foreign) at present is only sufficient for house hold level. This type of compost containers are not suitable and not practicable for housing schemes, army camps, hostels, hospitals, flats where habitats above 200‐250. The main reason is that the daily disposals of degradable waste in these areas are high. Therefore, more composed barrels to be used and the expenditure incurring is also more. But this design can be used easily to prepare compost fertilizer by using the biodegradable waste generated from the housing schemes, army camps, hostels, hospitals, flats where habitats above 200‐250 and hotels. Like wise, this can be used in domestic level to prepare compost fertilizer more efficiently than those available in the market.

* Ease of mixing the garbage by a single person putting a less effort.

* Well maintained ventilation system is included in the design.

* Leach ate collecting system is included in this design and leach ate can be reused easily.

* Garbage can be stored separately in the chambers in this container.

* the main advantages of this method is  simply the easy technological involvement and low cost. 


These methods can be practiced at community level. If any one willing to try this method please contact Nadula via following details.

Nadula Abeysinghe :‐ +94714116753

E‐mail : ‐ nadula2008@gmail.com

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