Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia is giving the community a chance to get their compost from the zoo this September.
Manure — 1,500 pounds of it — is collected from the carnivore exhibits each day at Riverbanks Zoo. The bulk compost that is sold at the Compoost event is made from Zebra, Giraffe and almost 75 percent from elephant droppings.
“For the most part, the nutrients in an herbivore is pretty much an herbivore; however, it’s got that special little twist of having a touch of Africa in our compost,” said zoo curator John Davis.
The manure is placed on a cement surface and must sit outside in the heat for about 2 months. It’s turned periodically and needs to remain at a temperature hot enough to allow it to decompose properly, which is anywhere from 100 to 160 degrees.
Liquid that runs off the pile drains into a 6-foot deep pit and is pumped back into the piles to retain moisture. Davis calls the liquid “compost tea” and says it eventually allows the compost to acquire a spongy consistency.
Once the temperature drops to 115° F, the compost is hauled to an area under the trees for a 30-day curing stage. Consistency is also important in this stage of the compost to make sure it can retain nutrients to help plants grow.
“By taking a virtually unusable waste product and turning it into something that is beneficial to Riverbanks, the community and the environment, we are being good stewards of the Earth,” Davis said.
Customers can purchase compost in 1 cubic-yard loads for $43 each but zookeepers say there are limited supplies so order soon. You can reserve your load online at www.compoost.org and also purchase the compost in smaller sizes year round at the Zoo.
Compost pick up is on Friday, Sept. 24, between 5 and 7 p.m. afterhours at Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia. When you arrive, zookeepers will help you load your load.
All proceeds from the bulk sale will go toward conservation projects all over the world. Some of the money even goes toward animals like those at Riverbanks who helped make the compost for sale. Check Riverbanks conservation projects at www.riverbanks.com
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