The composting process

Temperature Aerobic bacteria vary in the temperatures at which they can survive. Some can survive temperatures of 140 ° to 150° F and are called thermophilic bacteria. As the composting process starts, lower temperature requiring bacterial species predominate until temperatures increase to a level that they are killed. Then thermophilic bacteria take over and predominate. Thermophilic bacteria are eventually killed by the ever increasing temperatures of the compost pile. As this occurs, the temperature of the pile decreases and lower temperature bacteria begin to take over again. Finally, when most of the material has been composted and the bacteria no longer have an energy source, they die and the composting process is complete.