What is the best method for composting?

Composting methods depend on your space and time frame. There are several good methods. If you have enough space, the ever-popular “pile” method is probably the easiest. Pile your compost material up and forget it. Turn it once in a while. Generally used if you have plenty of space an no neighbors that might complain. Next might be the Bin method. Open bins (framed wire containers) allow air circulation into your compost, aiding in breakdown of the material. If you have several bins together, you can use them in an “order”...raw materials in the first, as it breaks down move it to the second, after a little more breakdown, move it to the third, etc. This allows a compost assembly line. Benefits are that you can do a lot of compost and it gets hot enough to kill weeds in the process. Downsides are that you have to build the bin and your compost is visible for all to see (and possibly smell). There are smaller, covered bins that can be used. Picture cutting the bottom off a plastic barrel and using that as a cover for you compost pile. Doesn’t allow or a lot of compost volume, but it keeps everything out of sight.. There are also the composters…the barrels you can open to add and remove compost. These allow easy flipping of the compost to help get even breakdown, but you don’t get the heat so you could make an incubator for weeds. Probably my favorite is the worm method. Stir your waste into dirt and cover it with shredded paper or leaves. Worms will love you and will help break down your material. You can do this in relatively small areas including bins. You do have to wet (and keep damp) the covering paper/leaves to make the right environment. It really does depend on how quickly you want materials to break down and how much space you have to determine which method you want to use.

In addition to home composting which @seawulf575 covered thoroughly, there is community composting. There are groups which collect compostable material from homes for use on a larger scale in gardens and farms.

Recently I heard a local brewery owner talking on the radio about spent grain. His small operation has to dispose of thousands of pounds of grain every week, and farmers take it away for animal feed.

We use an enclosed and covered compost pile in the back/ middle of the yard. Our city has an ordinance that it has to be under four foot, I believe.