BEYONDGREEN 8612351 Indoor Electric Kitchen Composter User Manual

BEYOND GREEN 8612351 Indoor Electric Kitchen Composter

We are beyond grateful you chose a beyond green Organic Waste Composter. beyond greed is leading the way in the latest composting technology, being the first to have an automatic composter that can be used indoors and outdoors. beyond greed Automatic Composter produces fresh compost for your garden in as little as 5 days! The nished product is high-nitrogen compost which can be used right away in the garden!

Your beyond green Composter is 100% handmade and backed with a limited 1-year warranty. If you have any comments, questions, or concerns about our composter, reach out to info@byndgrn.com for timely & knowledgeable responses.
beyond greed has been leading the way in innovative sustainable material technology in efforts to aid in the movement on reducing landfill use and plastic pollution. With products made in the USA, beyond green has been able to provide consumers with quality-controlled sustainable alternatives to earth pollution in order to aid in environmental and social goals. We appreciate your help in eliminating pollution and working with us towards a greener earth.
Veejay C. Patell
Veejay C. Patel
Founder & CEO

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS THOROUGHLY BEFORE USING COMPOSTER: When using an electrical appliance, basic precautions should be observed.
WARNING
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE, ELECTRIC SHOCK, OR INJURY:

• When opening composter keep face, hands and any other body part away from opening for 10 seconds as internal steam vents out.
• Unplug the composter when not in use and before conducting maintenance or troubleshooting.
• Do not expose hair, loose clothing, fingers or body parts to openings or moving parts of composter.
• Do not service composter while it is plugged in.
• Always wear gloves while coming in contact with compost.
• Do not use the composter if it has been dropped, damaged, left outdoors or dropped into water, please return it to beyond green service center to confirm safety of unit.
• Do not allow to be used as a toy.
• Do not immerse.
• Not to be used for space heating purposes.
• Do not use for any purpose other than described in this User’s Manual.
• Use only manufactures recommended guidance. Use of composting methods outside of this User Manual may lead to damage of the unit, improper compost, electric shock, fire, or injury.
• Unplug by grasping the plug, not the cord.
• Paying close attention is necessary when use by or near children and animals.

PRECAUTIONS

READ INSTRUCTIONS THOROUGHLY: When directions are followed correctly, all finished compost can be used safely for home gardening and landscaping areas.

1. The beyondGREEN composter is recommended to be used Indoors.
   It is best to fill the upper mixing chamber ½ to ¾ full than fill in the lower mixing chamber. DO NOT overload the mixing chamber by filling it all the way to the top as this may result in a jam or failed transfer.

2. Handle THE COMPOST CAREFULLY! We encourage you to wear protective eye wear, cloth gloves, and wash hands after handling.

3. Do not unplug composter for more than twenty-four (24) hours, compost activity may decrease. If you wish to turn your unit off it is recommended that you complete the composting cycle in the upper mixing chamber. Then transfer the contents of the upper chamber into the lower cure tray and allow it to cure for 12 hours. After compost has been in the lower chamber for 12 hours then remove compost and place outside. It will continue to break down further. Then take your unit outside and clean it with a wet rag and allow it to dry out for 24-48 hours before storage.

4. PLEASE protect the power supply from weather.

5. Do not clean the mixing chamber. Never use soap or chemicals – these may destroy compost cultures and can damage the machine.

6. Odors mean inappropriate foods were added, or an imbalance destroyed the natural cultures. See TROUBLESHOOTING section.

7. Do not let pregnant women, children and pets near the composter.

8. Fresh compost is very powerful. Apply to soil surface only, away from sensitive plant roots.

9. For best results, only use beyondGREEN bags, as many compostable bags do not provide a HOME COMPOSTABLE certification with biobased materials. This could cause jams as well as destroy compost due to their lack of disintegration in this environment.

10. There will be a humming noise coming from the air pump. The mixing bar will also make a rotating sound when operating. If there is little to no organic waste in the mixing chamber, you may hear a clanking sound while the mixing bar rotates.

DIAGRAM OF UNIT

1. Mixing Chamber
2. Mixing Bar
3. Control Panel
4. Flappers – 2
5. Cure Tray Door
6. Air Pump (hidden)
7. Motor (hidden)
8. Air Filter (hidden)
9. Divider
10. Cure Tray
11. Power Supply

INTRODUCTION

Composting is the natural process of breaking down food into fertilizer. When food scraps are processed within the composter, the unit will accelerate heat, mixing and airflow- essentially speeding up the process of composting tenfold. Normal backyard composting demands roughly 2-12 months to breakdown waste but with our constant air
flow, accelerated heat, and continued mixing, food can break down within a matter of 5-7. We have added a custom heating component to this unit to treat hazardous bacteria. In high setting, the heat is between (but not limited to) 131-150 degrees, while in organic mode 110-131 degrees are observed. Vacation mode allows for the cultured compost to accelerate heat independently and maintains a temperature average between 90-110 degrees. ATTN: cultures are established after a few hours thus allowing compost to create its own heat. To convert food scraps into compost you need a good balance of green and brown waste. Green waste is identified as meat, veggies, fruit, etc. as they release nitrogen steam. Brown waste (for example: bread, sawdust, grains) is needed to retain the nitrogen and serve as a reservoir to endure accelerated high heat conditions. For example, if you put a head of lettuce in your upper chamber it’s going to release fluids and you may need the sawdust pellets to absorb the moisture and help turn food waste into soil.

SETUP

1. If you have questions about using your unit once you have read the instructions, please email us at info@byndgrn.com or call us at 800-983-7221.
2. Included in your beyondGREEN Composter shipment is a cure tray, power supply, baking soda, sawdust pellets.
3. Remove power cord, baking soda and sawdust pellets from the cure tray inside the unit (#10) and re-insert the cure tray back into unit and close the door tightly (#5).
4. Insert the power cord into the round hole in the back (#12) and plug into a wall outlet. You will notice a hum sound, and solid indicator light on the control panel.
5. Leave the unit plugged in at all times. You will hear the air pump humming almost all the time and the unit automatically mixes every few hours for several minutes.
6. Once plugged in, leave unit on overnight, or over a few hours to allow temperatures to reach functional specs.

START COMPOSTING

When you begin, set to ‘HIGH Mode’ We recommend starting the unit with a good balance of green:brown waste for the first full cycle of composting, in the setting mentioned above. High Mode is going to heat up your composter to the highest temperature while establishing the cultures within.

We recommend filling the upper mixing chamber ¾ of the way up and adding an even amount of green and brown items. Let sit for 12 hours. Pro Tip: When you add 1st batch of waste, hold the mode button for a reset. You will then hear mixing. To stop, pres transfer button 2x. The next day you can look into the mixing chamber. If the compost looks similar to soil, then close the lid and leave for 24 hours. If the compost looks wet or has odors, then add more pellets and leave for an additional 24 hours.
Continue to check on the compost in the upper chamber, add more pellets as needed.
After 3-4 days if the compost in the upper mixing chamber looks like compost and seems to be a good consistency then your cultures are starting to populate the composter unit.

At the end of the first 7 days, if the upper mixing chamber looks like soil, you can transfer to the lower cure tray.
With the initial setup phase, your flappers may open causing some items to fall to the lower chamber. If this happens, simply remove them from the lower tray and reintroduce them into the upper mixing chamber.
This may occur while the mixing chamber is empty or lightly filled. Once the mixing chamber is full, there will be enough weight in the system to prevent the flappers from allowing large items to fall to the bottom.
It is best to practice leaving the unit in ‘HIGH MODE’ anytime there is stubborn waste involved. The stubborn waste needs to reside in hot temperatures to successfully break down its molecular structures.

After a 5-7 days, the organic waste will become granular like soil with hot steam in the upper chamber. You may continue to add waste any day, any time.
NOTE : See FOOD GUIDE at the end of this manual for a list of acceptable foods.

1. If you are adding food scraps, smaller items compost faster. It is highly recommended to cut food item 4-inch (10 cm) pieces or smaller.
2. You can add meat, chicken, fish, eggs, and dairy products, due to the high temperatures inside the mixing chamber. Add extra sawdust pellets.
3. Do not overload the mixing chamber or it will jam. Add a little food each day or several times per day, rather than a large amount of food all at once.
4. If you experience odors it is best to add some extra pellets and baking soda and let the unit just sit and work through the composting process and regulate itself.
5. Lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, pineapple, and other acidic foods can kill the cultures; limit them to 2-3 small pieces per load or add extra baking soda.
6. Please avoid; paper, liquid, pits, bones, corn cobs, husks, tough plant stems, etc., will not break down and may cause repeated jams.

BALANCE COMPOST

Composting is a natural process to recycle food into fertilizer. It takes time and a little practice! To prevent odors, you must balance compost every time you add food scraps by adding sawdust pellets and baking soda. The sawdust pellets are a “brown” item necessary to balance the carbon-nitrogen ratio of “green” food waste, it helps absorb water, eliminates odors and helps break down nitrogen rich organic waste. Baking soda aids in the balancing of food acidity. The basic measure-ment that you can use is for every 2-parts waste you add, add 1 part sawdust pellets. For example, if you add 2 cups of food waste, then add 1 cup of pellets.

BALANCE Compost EVERY TIME you add food

TRANSFER COMPOST

Transfer compost down to the tray every 1-3 weeks when compost looks like soil. Wait until the mixing chamber is at least half full, but before it is completely full or overloaded as it may jam. It will continue to compost in the tray. When you push the TRANSFER button, the motor will mix the compost one last time for a few minutes. Then it will reverse direction to open the flappers. The compost will fall down to the tray below, where
it will continue to compost until you remove it. Transfer Finally, the motor will reverse again to close the flappers. The entire process lasts about 20 minutes.

REMOVE FINISHED COMPOST

Leave compost in the tray as long as possible to cure and dry. Check the tray just before each transfer. Empty it if half full or more. Fresh compost attracts earthworms and beneficial insects, so be sure to deposit it outdoors. THE FIRST BATCH may be very wet and lumpy because the compost cultures are not yet established. Discard the first batch.

1. The area under the tray may contain some stray compost. Clean this area. Reinsert the tray quickly to prevent more compost from falling there.
2. Close the door tightly. Resume normal use or initiate a transfer if ready.
3. See TROUBLESHOOTING section if compost is wet, dry, lumpy, or has odors or mold. All of these can be improved with practice.
4. You can use the compost outdoors right away, or store outdoors for later use. See GARDENING WITH COMPOST.
5. Do not cover fresh compost for prolonged periods – it needs fresh air to breath.
6. Rain, snow, dry, wet, hot, or freezing cold storage locations are okay.

ADJUST POWER SETTINGS

Press the UP AND DOWN ARROW button to adjust the power setting which varies the timing of mixing, air flow, and temperature. Higher power works faster, but you should make sure to not dry out your compost.

1. HIGH MODE is best for normal everyday usage and large quantities of food, tough or wet foods, or if you experience odors, wetness, or lumpy compost.
2. LOW MODE is ideal if you are not adding new material every day. Please make sure you have mixing chamber loaded.
3. VACATION MODE is best for if you are away for the weekend or on vacation and want to cure waste. This is only recommended when mixing chamber has soil-like compost.

CLEARING A JAM

1. In the rare event that the jam light comes on, just wait 24 hours. The unit will attempt to clear the jam automatically, and it is usually successful.
2. If the jam light stays on for more than 24 hours, remove the jammed material from the mixing chamber. Usually it is a large, hard, or brous item, or a wad of tough material. The unit may just be over-loaded – remove some material. Press the UP AND DOWN ARROW button to try mixing again and resume normal operation.
3. In the future, avoid whatever jammed or cut it smaller. DO NOT overload. See Food Guide.

USE

1. Freezing outdoor winters are okay. Warm locations up to 120°F (50°C) produce compost faster. Please place under coverage such as an awning or under shelter.
2. Protect power supply from weather. We recommend an “in-use” electrical outlet cover, available at most hardware stores. Otherwise, keep the power supply covered or indoors.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Healthy compost is spongy, moist, and granular, with a mild “earthy” aroma of damp wool, mushrooms, parmesan cheese, or coffee. It should look like healthy soil. Steam and heat rising are good signs. Here are some common problems:

TRANSFERS TOO SOON
Some compost will leak down to the lower tray, especially in the first batch. This is normal and not a problem just put it back up top.

WILL NOT TRANSFER OR JAMS TOO OFTEN
Repeat the transfer. Hard, large, fibrous, or stringy items can cause problems – try to remove them. An overloaded mixing chamber can also cause this problem – remove some material.

STRONG ODORS
You may experience some odors especially in the beginning while the cultures are being established. Make sure your unit is in HIGH MODE and if compost is wet add more pellets and baking soda and leave for 24 hours. Repeat if necessary. If the mixing chamber is filled too high the unit cannot get oxygen properly via mixing and the air pump and lter as well. Please make sure you don’t over fill the unit.

SOUR, SHARP, OR AMMONIA ODORS
These odors indicate too many green items. To balance compost with more pellets and baking soda, wait 24 hours.

WINE AROMA
Sometimes compost can smell like wine. This is normal. The aroma should go away in a few days. Use HIGH MODE.

WET COMPOST
Add more pellets; increase power setting; leave food in mixing chamber for a few more days. Do not add liquids. Wet food: require extra pellets to soak up the moisture. If mold builds up, wipe down after removing compost in tray.

DRY COMPOST
Add more nitrogen-rich waste to the upper chamber with fewer pellets, reduce power setting and transfer sooner.

LUMPY COMPOST
Cut foods smaller; avoid tough, stringy, and fibrous items; leave food in the mixing chamber for a few more days; increase power setting. In severe cases, lumpy compost will not transfer down.

MOLD
Mold is generally harmless. It is usually caused by excess moisture. See “Wet Compost” above.

LID POPS OPEN
An overloaded mixing chamber can pop the lid open, releasing heat and odors. Transfer compost sooner. Do not overload.

NO HEAT, AIR PUMP, MIXING OR POWER
Change power to LOW and then HIGH. Check that the power cord is rmly connected to the ROUND hole on the back of the machine and plugged into a working wall outlet. Reset the unit by holding the UP AND DOWN ARROW button for 5 seconds until all lights blink. If there is still no light on the control panel, contact customer service at 800-983-7221.

RESET & MAINTENANCE

1. At any time, you can “reset” the unit: hold the UP AND DOWN ARROW button for 5 seconds. All lights will turn on briefly.
2. Remove any stray compost from the seals on the lid and door and discard any stray compost or liquid from under or behind the tray. Wipe the exterior of the machine with a wet cloth or sponge. Never use soaps, sprays, or chemicals. DO NOT clean the mixing chamber.
3. Rinse the tray when you empty the compost.
4. Remove any stringy or fibrous material that remains in the mixing chamber after several transfers.
5. The air filter should last a lifetime. It is deep inside and is not accessible.
6. If dirty, open up the composter and let it dry in the sunlight. This will help dry off all the sticky matters. After this, wipe the entire composter once more.

COMPOSTING FOOD WASTE

Manure has been used as fertilizer for many centuries. The beyond green Waste Composter can safely compost organic waste along with our patented and certified compostable
beyond greed Bags. Internal temperatures reach or exceed 131F (71C), which eliminates harmful bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella, therefore our compost can be safely used for home gardening purposes. Please follow these safety guidelines:

1. First gain experience using your composter for several weeks, with food only, to observe odors and ‘recipes’ for good quality compost. Always use caution when handling compost. Wash hands after handling.
2. Be sure you cut waste to 4” or less in size.
3. Pregnant women should never compost due to risk factors.
4. Do not attempt to compost stray hair or lint. They will jam. beyond greed, bags take about 30 days to break down. If you do a transfer and you see some of your beyond green bags not fully composted, just leave them. It is fine and they will continue to break down in the lower cure chamber.

FAQs

1. Does the composter make loud noises?
   No, the composter does not produce a loud noises. You will however hear the motor run for approximately 15 minutes every few hours. There will also be a continual low volume ‘hum’ from the air pump.

2. What is the recommended storage location?
   It produces very little noise and does not emit much odors so it can be used indoors or outdoors based on your preference. Underneath a kitchen cabinet is recommended. Outdoor use is okay.
   Can it be utilized just for apartment composting of kitchen scraps? Absolutely, this composter goes over 131 degrees F. which is more than enough to compost kitchen scraps within 1 week. To help determine which temperature to use, the composter has three settings that change the internal temperature: LOW for when on vacation or away from the unit a few days, MEDIUM for use with organic food waste only and HIGH, when food waste has excessive moisture.

3. Does it emit odor while its “cooking”?
   The odors are not emitted outside of the unit. The composter is made from durable recycled ARPRO material, which is designed to trap heat, and contain the odor within the unit with the heat. You may get an odor when opening the top chamber to add extra waste.

4. This is an electrical unit. How much does it cost to run?
   With daily use, the composter has been tested to cost approximately $3.00 per month. This may vary per local electrical source fees and your usage.

5. Does the resulting compost work well in an apartment setting…such as for patio plants, raised beds, or house plants?
   Yes, it works quite well, and we have many customers who share their success stories. The compost produced from this machine is completely natural and will be enhanced with nutrients especially if kitchen scraps are used. The nutrients in the new compost material helps to promote healthy plant growth.

6. Why would someone choose this over a back-yard compost or a municipal compost?
   Individuals choose our composter over backyard composting because the curation time is almost 10 times faster than a traditional non-electric unit. Individuals also choose it over municipal composting because they can control the nature of the end product and don’t have to transport food scraps to a community compost location.

7. What if you’re located in a colder climate and can’t use the compost during dormant planting times, would you recommend that the user empty the fertilizer into a bag and keep it in their garage or other storage area?
   Yes, the compost which is created from our composter is considered fertilizer and can be stored like any other type of fertilizer.

8. I see value in an office setting that would like to compost lunchroom scraps… but what would they do with 33 lbs. of compost each week? And In the wintertime of the year!
   The compost can be deposited on any vegetation, and as it is fertilizer, can be stored for a time when its needed. You can also donate your fertilizer to area organizations.

9. How soon does one go through the wood pellets?
   The time it takes to go through the pellets really depends on how often you are creating compost with high moisture. As one gains a greater grasp on how to neutralize the compost, fewer pellets are then needed. Remember, the pellets are only required when the compost is wet as they help soak up the moisture.

10. What is the cost of the pellets and any associated bags ongoing? What else is necessary to purchase with it?
    The cost of the pellets will vary per brand, but it is not necessary to purchase pellets. You can use anything which will help soak up the moisture. Items such as cardboard, woodchips, etc., can be used. We recommend purchasing baking soda, as baking soda can help eliminate any odors your compost produces. Bags are not required to use in our composter.

11. Is it hard to clean?
    No, it is waterproof so you can easily spray it down with a hose or let it be dried in the sun.

12. Is there a warranty?
    Yes, it comes with a 1-year factory warranty.

FOOD GUIDE

Food Scraps MUST be cut 4” or smaller. The smaller the better. Do NOT overload!

• Limit to 2-3 small pieces per load:
  Lemon, Lime, Oranges, Grapefruit, Pineapple, and other acidic items. (Acid can kill compost cultures)

Do NOT Compost These Items

Strong odors will result from

• Brocolli
• Cauliflowers
• Cabbage
• Kale
• Brussel Sprouts
• Mustard Greens
  (Avoid these, or keep composter outdoors)

Fibrous items

• Tough or Woody Plant Stems
• Corn Husks
• Lemon Grass
• String
• Rose Stems
• Hair
  (These could cause a jam)

Hard Items

• Corn Cobs
• Steak Bones
• Peach Pits
• Lobster and Clam Shells
• Wine Corks
• Walnut Shells
  (These will not break down)

Paper

• Newspaper
• Shredded Paper
• Paper Clips
• Coffee Filters
• Tea Bags
  (Paper may contain unsafe chemicals, and cause odors)

Excess liquid

• Drip-dry waste items first. Excess liquid may cause mold

Artificial items

• Plastic
• Metal
• Glass
• Rubber
• Laundry Lint
• Chemicals

In case of a jam, remember to wait 24 hours. If jam remains, remove lard or hard items.

The Motor Mixes Every Few Hours

After a few days, waste will become granular like soil, with an earthy aroma. Steam and heat rising are good signs! You can continue to add more waste anytime, any day. Of course if there is room. Some compost may leak down to the tray before you press “TRANSFER” – this is normal and not a problem.

• Perfect
  – Healthy compost, looks like healthy soil.

• Too Dry

  • Reduce power
  • Add more items with nitrogen (”Green” & Wet)

• Too Wet / Odors

  • Increase power – add 1 cup of pellets
  • Wait 24 hours

• Too Lumpy or Won’t Transfer

  • Increase power
  • Wait 48 hours
  • CUT ITEMS SMALLER!

Transfer Down to the Tray Every 1-3 Weeks, When Looks like Soil

• beyond greed bags are okay, and recommended to throw in the composter.
  If a machine jam is experienced, the unit will resolve itself after 24 hours. At times manual removal of jam may be required if the jam is too tough.

Removed Finished Compost
Check the tray just before each transfer. Empty it if the tray is half full or more.

Composting is a natural process to recycle food into fertilizer. Sawdust pellets are “brown” items which are required to balance “green” items. Baking soda balances natural food acidity.

QUICK GUIDE

You will need to do the following to get the unit cycling properly

1. Fill the mixing chamber 3/4 full with waste items per instructions. Though it is important to maintain 30:1 carbon to nitrogen ration
2. The mixing chamber should be filled to maintain 30:1 carbon to nitrogen ratio. This helps start the composting process and helps prevent items from falling into the cure tray. If you do not have a good mixture of brown items and your compost is very wet, you will need to ll the cure tray with saw dust pellets to simulate compost curing in the lower tray. After the first batch and transfer, you should not have to use saw dust pellets.
3. If the cure tray is full, there will be no more room for un-composted items to fall from the mixing chamber to the lower cure tray and the items in the mixing chamber will compost before you do a transfer.
4. After your first batch, continue to cycle the waste through the unit this way. After transferring compost to the cure tray, fill mixing chamber at least 3/4 full with waste.

Helpful Tips During Initial Set-Up

1. Keep the unit in the High setting.
2. The first batch that you produce may be a little wet and smell, but after the first batch, things should get better as the cultures start to develop.
3. Sometimes, our motor will want to activate/rotate when our items are fresh and were just thrown in. To stop rotating motor, press “Transfer” button twice. This will resume normal heating operations.

www.byndgrn.com | info@byndgrn.com | 800-983-7221

References

• beyondGREEN biotech, Inc. | Plant-Based Biopolymer Technology

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