AU656474B2 - Composting apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

-1- The present invention relates to a composting apparatus and nmethod, and, in particular, to a composting apparatus and method which Sis ah! LO be used indoors.

The usual method of decomposing organic materials is done outdoors, either on the ground in compost heaps, or in plastic Ibottomless bins or in other types of containers.

Many persons live in apartments, flats, home units, condominiums and other premises without any ground level garden, and also without any significant outdoor space. However, many of these persons wish to compost organic waste matter which they create (such as vegetable peelings) for two reasons. The first reason is to create compost which they can use as a fertilizer for indoor plants or balcony pot plants.

The second reason is to reduce the volume of garbage produced by each household. This is critical in some jurisdictions as garbage collection 15 fees are to be levied on a volume basis.

The prior art method of composting is unsuitable for indoors due to the fact that unpleasant odours are generated, aid both soil bacteria and earthworms are absent.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a composting apparatus and method which is able to used indoors without the S: generation of unpleasant odours.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed an apparatus for composting organic waste, said apparatus comprising an outer container with a lid, a first inner container open 25 at the top and locatable in said outer container adjacent to the bottom of said outer container, a second inner container open at the top and locatable at least partially within said first inner container, said first and second inner containers having apertures in their bottom surfaces, and an air supply means providing an air supply to the inter or of first inner container, wherein a potting mix and worms are iable to be placed within said first inner container and organic waste is able to be placed within said second inner container.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a method of composting organic waste, said method comprising the steps of placing a potting mix and worms in a first inner container, placing organic waste in a second inner container which is locatable on top of said first inner container, said inner containers being locatable within an outer container having a lid, placing said lid on said outer HIRW//11 59c i -2container to close said container, supplying air to the potting mix in said first inner container to assist the composting of the material.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which Fig. l is a cutaway perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 when in use.

The apparatus 1 includes an outer container 2 with lid 3. The outer container 2 has a cock 7 located adjacent its bottom to remove any discharged liquids from the bottom of the container 2 if necessary. The outer container 2 also has a number of holes (not illustrated) located in the container to allow air to escape if necessary, but preferably screened to prevent the ingress of flies and other insects.

A first inner container 5 is placed on blocks 4 located at the :bottom of the outer container 2. The first inner container 5 has one or Smore drain holes 8 located in its bottom surface as this first inner container 5 is able to be used as a conventional pot for a pot plant.

The first inner container 5 is raised from the bottom of the outer container 2 to allow room for any water to drain and to provide air circulation.

A potting mix 14 is placed within the first inner container 5 and a perforated stone 13 is located within the potting mix 14. The perforated stone 13 is connected to a tube 12 which in turn is connected 25 to an air pump 11. The perforated stone 13 allows the potting mix to be aerated by air from the air pump 11. This aeration equipment is known per se for aquarium use.

A second inner container 6 which nests Inside the first inner container 5, is placed on top of the potting mix 14. The second inner container 6 has openings 9 through its bottom surface to allow movement of earthworms and worm castings between the two containers 5 and 6. The second inner container 6 can be supported by lugs (not Illustrated) projecting fromr the inside surface of the first inner container Organic waste 15 Is placed in the second inner container 6 and a cover 10 can be placed on top of the organic waste 15. The cover 10 is preferably a piece of discarded carpet. The organic waste 15 can be supplemented by layers of potting mix added to the top of the organic I waste 15 to bulk up the mixture in the second inner container 6. L i HRW/1159c i 7~ -3- In use, when the potting mix 14 which can include soil, sand organic waste or similar, is placed in the first inner container 5, any of several varieties of worms are also introduced into this container The second inner container 6 is placed in position and the organic waste 15 (kitchen scraps) and layers of potting mix are then placed in the second inner container 6.

From time to time further kitchen scraps, newspapers and other organic matter are added to the second container 6 as they need to be discarded. The organic waste 15 comes into contact with the potting mix 14 through the openings 9 in the second inner container 6. A small quantity of powdered lime, dolomite or compost booster is preferably sprinkled over the top of the organic waste 15. The cover 10 is then placed over the top of the organic waste 15 and the lid 3 is then put Into place.

15 The openings 9 allow the worms to travel from the container 5 into the container 6. The action of the worms and bacteria breaks down the organic waste 15. The worms mix the breakdown products with the potting mix very thoroughly, making the first inner container 5 full of potting mix 14 and worm castings. This is an ideal environmient for plants to grow.

After a period of time the level of material will build up in the second inner container 6 and the worms will work their way up to it.

The second inner container 6 is then removed and kept separately. The *first inner container 5 is removed and used for growing plants. A new 25 first inner container 5 is prepared using the contents of tl, second inner container 6 and a fresh quantity of potting mix 14. The cycle is .then able to start over again.

r S* The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention, and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art can be made tl.reto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

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Claims (8)

1. An apparatus for composting organic waste, said apparatus comprising an outer container with a lid, a first inner container open at the top and locatable in said outer container adjacent to the bottom of said outer container, a second inner container open at the top and locatable at least partially within said first inner container, said first and second inner containers having apertures in their bottom surfaces, and an air supply means providing an air supply to the interior of the first inner container, wherein a potting mix and worms are able to be placed within said first inner container and organic waste is able to be placed within said second inner container.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first inner container is supported within said outer container by blocks, thus spacing said first inner container from said outer container.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said outer container has a draining means located adjacent its bottom to drain any discharged liquids.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a cover is provided to be placed on said organic waste. A method of composting organic waste In combination with apparatus according to claim 1, said method comprising the steps of placing potting mix and worms in said first inner container, placing organic waste in said second inner container, placing said lid on said outer container to close said container, supplying air to said potting mix in said first inner container to assist the composting of said organic waste.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, including the further step of placing layers of potting mix in said second inner container to add bulk to said organic waste.

7. A method as claimed in claims 5 or 6, including the step of placing a small quantity of powdered lime, dolomite, or compost booster in said second inner container and placing a cover on the contents of said second inner container.

8. A method as claimed in any one of claims 5-7, including the step of draining any liquid build-up in the bottom of said outer container. I 0 Ai L HRW/ 159c I!-

77- 9. An apparatus for composting organic waste, said apparatus being substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A method of composting organic waste, said method being substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this SEVENTEENTH day of JUNE 1993 Robert William Coe Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON o o D r I o rr r r HRW/1159c I ,I A Composting Apparatus and Method ABSTRACT An apparatus for composting organic waste (15) and a method of using same is disclosed. The apparatus includes an outer container having a lid The outer container houses two inner containers which nest inside the outer container The first inner container adjacent the bottom of the outer container Is filled with a potting mix (14) and worms while the second inner container nesting on top of the first inner container is filled with organic wastes Openings located on the bottom of the second inner container allow the worms to travel from the first inner container into the second inner container The action of the worms and bacteria breaks down the organic waste and the breakdown products are thoroughly mixed with the potting mix to provide an ideal environment for plants to grow. I 1 /1159c *t l l- 3 ft.