Garden Fertilizer (Compost Academic Task 1)

The diagram shows how to recycle organic waste to produce garden fertilizer (compost).

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The diagram illustrates a five-stage process for producing compost from organic household waste using a plastic container.

Overall, the procedure involves placing layers of organic materials into a ventilated container, adding nitrogen and hot water, and allowing the mixture to decompose over a period of six months. The final product is compost, which can be used as garden fertiliser.

At the first stage, a plastic container with a capacity of 2 cubic metres is prepared. The container has several holes on each side to allow air to circulate. Next, organic waste is added to the container in layers. Food scraps form the bottom layer, measuring approximately 15 centimetres in depth. This is covered by an equal 15-centimetre layer of grass, followed by a layer of shredded newspaper. Additional organic waste is then placed on top of these materials. In the third stage, nitrogen and hot water are poured into the container. After this, the container is closed with a lid and left undisturbed. During the following six months, heat is generated inside the container as the organic matter decomposes. Finally, after half a year, the waste has fully broken down and turned into compost, which collects at the bottom of the container. This material can then be removed and used in the garden as a natural fertiliser.