TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ENVIRONMENT - Preferred Method: Non-compostable components may be eliminated e.g. by sieving, applying a magnetic field and, if necessary, reducing the particle size of the material. Preferably the pre-composting stage consists in holding the material for composting at a temperature of above 60 degrees C for at least 10 hours, preferably at least 3 days. Preferably the oxygen content during the pre-composting is at least 12 %. The post-composting stage consists in holding the composted material, after pre-composting, at a temperature of 45-55 degrees C for at least 10 days. Preferably during the post-composting stage the moisture content of the composted material is at least 40 %. Enzymes may be added to the fermented material obtained after the pre-composting and post-composting stages and the product may be subjected to a drying treatment. EXAMPLE - Mixed domestic vegetable, fruit and garden waste was subjected to a pre-composting treatment at 60 degrees C for 1 week, cooled to 45-55 degrees C, conditioned at this temperature, and the material then discharged. Subsequently the material was subjected to a post-composting treatment at 45-55 degrees C for 2 weeks followed by cooling to 25 degrees C, during which treatment the material was sprayed with water to maintain the moisture content at at least 40 %. The product was treated to remove glass, stones and other large pieces and then sieved through a sieve of maximum 15 mm. The product was finally packaged for use as a litter. The compost was used as strewn litter on the floor of a chicken house in comparison to a conventional wood shaving based litter. Analysis of the two types of litter after 4 weeks and 5 weeks gave the following results (wood shavings in brackets): 4 weeks, phosphate content 22.9 (33.5) kg; nitrogen content 26.0 (35.0) kg. 5 weeks, phosphate content 19.1 (32.9) kg; nitrogen content 23.0 (38.0) kg. The results clearly show the lower phosphate and nitrogen content of the compost litter in comparison to the wood shavings.