Ammonia is a major emission during the composting process and it is known to have various adverse effects on health and the environment. Solutions of ammonia, ammonia in gaseous form, and ammonium salts have a major role in the functioning of the ecosystem. Hence, harmful ammonia emissions and utilization of ammonia by living things are areas of great research and study nowadays. The aim of this paper is to find out the average ammonia emissions during the composting process and how they can be controlled. Although ammonia is emitted from various sources, emission of ammonia from composting process is particularly taken into consideration in this paper. Various factors affect the rate of ammonia emission during various stages of the composting process of different waste materials and fertilizers. Primarily, it has been found that high temperatures and a low C:N ratio favor emission of ammonia whereas low temperatures and high C:N ratio reduce ammonia emissions. Aeration of compost pits and how it affects ammonia volatilization has been taken into consideration. This paper also has information regarding the different bacteria that grow during various stages of composting and how they should be effectively incorporated in the process. © 2016, Global Research Online. All rights reserved.