Compost Diary - Regular Pad

We conducted compost testing on our regular pad, documenting the stages of decomposition over a 12-month period.

Our experimental setup involved an unsealed small ground surface bin with a metal lid placed on top. On the initial day, we exclusively added food scraps to the bin, refraining from any water addition throughout the entire duration. This deliberate approach aimed to illustrate the prolonged decomposition process in the absence of recommended compost maintenance interventions.

Regular additions of organic matter, moisture, and soil rotation/airing would foster higher temperatures, expediting the breakdown of organic materials. It's worth noting that decomposition efficiency would significantly improve in a more refined compost system.

0 Months - 24th May

  • Regular pad opened with backing wrappers and sticker still attached.
  • Placed in ground level compost with some food scraps.
  • Dried leaves placed on top. No water added.
  • Metal lid placed on top of compost.

  • Notes

    Autumn
    14.2 - 21.3 Degrees
    73% humidity

6 Months - 24th Nov

  • Significant decomposition underway.
  • Pad completely gone. Backing wrapper significantly decomposed.
  • Falling apart to the touch.
  • Wrapper sticker still intact.

  • Notes

    Spring
    20.4 - 28.3 Degrees
    66% Humidity

    Sticker tab has been removed from our pads and liners.

8 Months - 24th Jan

  • Further decomposition has taken place.
  • Had to remove top layer of debris to locate remains.
  • Remaining materials barely holding together when picked up.
  • Pad remnants falling apart and disintegrating into soil.

  • Notes

    Summer
    20.3 - 28.8 Degrees
    77% Humidity

10 Months - 24th March

  • Notes

    Autumn
    18 - 22 Degrees
    84% Humidity

12 Months - 24th May

  • Notes

    Autumn
    10 - 21 Degrees
    84% Humidity

    When small remnant was rubbed between fingers it disintegrated.

What We Learnt

Significant decomposition: Achieved in 6 months
Complete decomposition: Achieved in 12 months
Findings: The wrapper sticker didn't decompose as fast as the organic cotton pad and core, so we removed this component from production.