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Part 2 · Build the house and its systems

Waste and compost

This module shows you how to measure your waste, cut it at the source, and turn food, garden and animal waste into compost, worm castings and, where it makes sense, biogas. It also covers how to store and legally dispose of what cannot be processed on site, from recyclables to batteries, oils and old solar panels.

Why it matters

An off-grid estate has no bin collection, so every item that comes in either loops back into the land or has to be carried out by you. Good composting builds the soil that feeds the food module. Poor handling attracts pests, pollutes water and soil, and can create fire and gas hazards. Burning or burying rubbish puts toxic compounds into the air, the garden and the food chain.

Audit your waste and set the hierarchy (Plan)

  1. Do a two-week waste audit waste-1
  2. Apply the reduce and reuse hierarchy to purchasing waste-2
  3. Map the estate's materials flow: what stays and what leaves waste-3
  4. Check local rules and remote-area services waste-4

Design the organics and materials systems (Design)

  1. Choose your composting methods and site waste-5
  2. Design a dry recyclables and residual waste station waste-6
  3. Decide whether a biogas digester is viable waste-7
  4. Plan construction to cut waste and reuse materials waste-8

Build the waste infrastructure (Install)

  1. Build rodent-resistant compost bays waste-9
  2. Set up a worm bin waste-10
  3. Install a biogas digester (only if viable) waste-11
  4. Build a hazardous waste locker waste-12
  5. Run the building site to minimise and sort waste waste-13

Start up and run the systems (Test)

  1. Build your first hot compost pile with the right C:N blend waste-14
  2. Monitor temperatures for pathogen and weed seed reduction waste-15
  3. Run a cold pile for low-risk material waste-16
  4. Commission the biogas digester and set up gas safety waste-17
  5. Feed and harvest the worm bin waste-18

Live with it: use, dispose, record (Run)

  1. Use compost and digestate safely waste-19
  2. Use wood ash correctly waste-20
  3. Consider biochar carefully waste-21
  4. Run recycling and residual waste trips waste-22
  5. Dispose of hazardous waste: batteries, oils, chemicals, electronics and old PV panels waste-23
  6. Control pests around waste waste-24
  7. Keep records and review each year waste-25

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