Compost is used in parks and nurseries, on Christmas tree farms and along highways where soil is damaged from the use of winter salt. MSW compost is made through a process known as biodegradation or decomposition, aided by mechanized controls. The collected organic waste is mixed and then shredded or crushed to a uniform size and consistency in a large machine that looks like a cement mixer. Temperature, moisture, and oxygen content are monitored closely to maximize the rate of biodegradation. Much of the work in the decomposition process is done by anaerobic bacteria.
Anaerobic bacteria are small organisms that can live without oxygen.
These organisms break down the organic material that has been collected into the soil-like material we call compost. During the composting process, the bacteria generate heat. At times, the temperature in a compost pile can reach well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. During the curing process, the compost must be turned occasionally to help the process of biodegradation and to keep odors to a minimum. While new in the US, MSW composting has been used for many years in Europe.