The Evolution of Composting
From Its Origins to the Technology of the Future
Last updated
From Its Origins to the Technology of the Future
Last updated
The history of composting is a fascinating journey that takes us from the earliest human settlements to the technological advancements of today. This ancient technique has enabled civilizations to transform waste into valuable resources for agriculture and daily life, adapting and evolving alongside social and scientific changes.
Prehistory: The First Natural Composters
In Paleolithic settlements, organic remains began accumulating in pits dug into the ground, where they naturally decomposed. Unknowingly, humans were already engaging in the first composting practices. Later, the Sumerians, pioneers in agriculture, used pits and enclosed spaces to store and manage their waste. This initial phase marks the beginning of a unique relationship between humanity and the earth, where the remnants of life were recycled to nourish future life.
Ancient Times: Great Civilizations and Fertile Soil
In Egypt, China, and Greece, around 3000 BCE, we find the first records of composting as an agricultural technique to enrich the soil. Farmers in these civilizations understood that organic waste could be the key to growing better crops, making composting a fundamental agricultural practice. The Romans also adopted this technique; during Emperor Augustus's reign, a waste collection system was implemented for use on farmland. Composting was not just an agricultural method but a strategy for food sustainability.
If you’d like to explore more about the beginnings of composting, you can check out the following research article on composting in the Copper Age, published on the Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage website.
3. Middle Ages: Peasant Wisdom and the “Fertile Gold” In Europe, during the Middle Ages, peasants used manure and crop residues to enrich the soil in a rudimentary way. This technique, although simple, was essential for subsistence in rural areas. In the 12th century, Templar friar Gualdim Pais wrote a manuscript describing a detailed process for obtaining “living humus” or “fertile gold.”
4. Modern Age: Composting as an Emerging Science With the Renaissance, composting practices began to be refined and observed more closely. In Florence, farmers selling fresh produce at markets would collect organic waste from the city at the end of the day to fertilize their fields. John Evelyn, in his 1661 book Sylva, was one of the first to propose using plant waste as a source of nutrients for soil, demonstrating an advanced understanding of the benefits of composting.
A remarkable example that endures to this day is the Fallen Leaves Compost Agroforestry System in Musashino Upland, located in the peri-urban area of Tokyo, Japan. This system, practiced for centuries in Japan, utilizes fallen tree leaves as raw material for composting. The leaves are collected from forests and composted to enrich nearby agricultural lands, promoting a natural nutrient cycle. This method of agroforestry is not only an example of ancestral composting but also highlights a harmonious relationship between forests and agriculture, adapting to modern urban needs and contributing to sustainability in peri-urban areas.
To learn more about other significant systems within the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), visit the FAO page on GIAHS. This resource highlights the wealth and diversity of traditional agricultural systems around the world, recognized for their cultural and ecological value. Explore these systems at FAO GIAHS.
5. Contemporary Age: Innovation and Expansion of Composting In the 19th century, German chemist Justus von Liebig studied soil nutrients, promoting the use of chemical fertilizers. However, natural composting was not forgotten. In the early 20th century, Sir Albert Howard, working in India, developed the Indore Method, which involved mixing plant remains and manure in a controlled composting technique that became the foundation of modern composting. To read more about the Indore Method, you can check the article "Composting in Ecological Agriculture" published by the Generalitat de Catalunya.
6. Ecological Movements of the 1970s: The Revival of Community Composting With the rise of ecological movements in the 1970s, composting re-emerged as a sustainable practice. Growing concerns about pollution and waste management led to the creation of community composting programs in cities and towns, providing people with a tangible way to care for the planet. This era of environmental awareness cemented the popularity of home composting.
7. 21st Century: Urban and Technological Composting Today, composting has reached an advanced technological level. Large industrial plants process tons of waste daily, utilizing automated monitoring systems, sensors, and data analysis to optimize the process. At the same time, local initiatives have emerged to promote community composting in urban areas, allowing people to directly contribute to waste reduction and soil enrichment.
In Barcelona, inspiring community composting initiatives can be found, such as Abono Km0, a project that promotes the creation of compost from locally collected organic waste. Abono Km0 was part of the advisory committee for the Foodshift 2030 project, which fostered the development of citizen-led initiatives to transform the current food system. For more information, you can consult the Foodshift 2030 GitBook. We are confident you’ll find more inspiring ideas there.
Another remarkable initiative is Tarpuna, a social cooperative that develops community composting projects in Barcelona neighborhoods, creating accessible composting points for residents and educating the community on the importance of sustainable organic waste management. Tarpuna enables citizens to actively participate in compost creation, fostering a circular model where community waste returns to the soil as nutrients.
These initiatives highlight how composting can be integrated into cities, strengthening community bonds and transforming waste into local resources.
In urban areas, composting has found its place in community gardens and urban farms, demonstrating that everyone can contribute to reducing waste and improving the environment. Government policies in cities and countries across Europe and North America encourage composting and integrate it into strategies to reduce environmental impact.
In the future, composting faces both challenges and opportunities. Scientists are developing techniques to break down more complex waste, such as biodegradable plastics and textiles. Advanced biodigester systems promise to generate compost and renewable energy simultaneously, while automation through the Internet of Things (IoT) aims to make the process more efficient and cost-effective.
