On March 12, 2025, BioCycle Magazine published a new article written by ECS‘ Tim O’Neill and Liv Johansson examining the use of biochar as a feedstock admixture in bench-scale aerated composting systems. The research for this article was done in ECS compost laboratory, and the findings have implications for compost facilities interested in integrating biochar into their operations.
(ECS compost lab’s Aeration Demand Test vessels and sensors)
In the article, we discuss our research findings regarding the impacts of co-composting biochar on:
We also discuss the variability of individual biochar properties, inherent to each kind of biochar as a result of processing conditions and feedstocks. We use this information to suggest that not all biochars will offer identical benefits to each composting operation, and that it is important for composters to select biochars based on the most beneficial qualities for each operating goal.
To learn more about biochar’s impacts on aerated composting outcomes, the Biocycle article is available here. To enjoy the full report of our research, methods, and findings, please click here.
