Bagasse is another by-product of sugar industry. It is the heterogeneous fibrous residue that remains after sugarcane stalks are crushed for sugar extraction. Typically, from processing 100 tons of sugarcane in a factory, 30–34 tons of bagasse is obtained.

Dry bagasse consists of 45% cellulose, 28% hemicellulose, 20% lignin, 5% sugar, 1% minerals, and 2% ash. Bagasse is similar in component to wood except that it has high moisture content. Thus, it is currently used as a biofuel and in the manufacture of pulp and paper products, filler for building materials and as a substrate for growing mushrooms.

Bagasse is compostable both at home and commercially and can decompose in less than 90 days under the right conditions. Crushing bagasse products before composting significantly speeds up this process.

The bagasse begins to breakdown when exposed to:

• Moisture
• Heat
• Microorganism