How do matter and energy work in the compost?

Answer 1

[1] Basically, all living things are made up of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen. That's what they become once more when they die and decay. [2] And that's what happens in composting. Matter breaks down into its building blocks of carbon and nitrogen, with the addition of hydrogen by applying moisture and with the addition of oxygen by letting in air. [3] Energy is generated, by the build-up of temperatures within the pile. The temperature gets high enough to speed up the breakdown, but stays low enough not to catch on fire.

Answer 2

In composting, organic matter such as food scraps and yard waste break down through microbial activity. This process releases energy in the form of heat, which speeds up decomposition. The breaking down of organic matter also releases nutrients that can be used by plants.