Having the right proportions of ingredients in your compost pile will provide the composting microorganisms the carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and moisture they need to break down the material into finished compost. If needed, add a little water to dampen the pile. Then layer your greens and browns like lasagna. This layer will absorb extra liquids, elevate your pile and allow air to circulate at the base of the pile. Start your pile with a four- to six-inch layer of bulky browns such as twigs and wood chips. Doing so will help the materials in the pile break down faster. They can also be enclosed and include barrels and tumblers.īefore adding your browns and greens to the pile, try to chop and break them up into smaller pieces (e.g., corn cobs, broccoli stalks, and other tough food scraps). Bins can be constructed from materials such as wire, wood, and cinder blocks. Next, choose a type of bin for your pile. Your compost pile will break down in sun or shade. Avoid placing it right up against a fence and ensure there is a water source nearby. Set aside space for your compost pile and build or buy a bin.Ĭhoose a space in your yard for your compost pile that is easily accessible year-round and has good drainage. For browns, set aside an area outside to store your steady supply of leaves, twigs, or other carbon-rich material (to mix with your food scraps). Steps for Backyard Compostingĭetermine how you will collect and store your browns and greens.Ĭollect and store your fruit and vegetable scraps in a closed container on your kitchen counter, under your sink, or in your fridge or freezer. These items are designed to be composted at commercial composting facilities. *Backyard composting piles do not generally reach high enough temperatures to fully decompose certified compostable food service ware and bags. Shredded cardboard (no wax coating, tape, or glue) Shredded paper (non-glossy, not colored) and shredded brown bags What You Can Compost What You Can Compost at HomeĬompostable food service ware and compostable bags* The nitrogen-rich materials heat up the pile to create ideal conditions for the material to breakdown. Nitrogen-rich materials (“greens”) include grass clippings and food scraps.The carbon-rich materials provide food for the microorganisms to consume and digest. Carbon-rich materials (“browns”) can include dry leaves, plant stalks, and twigs.The ingredients for composting include a proper balance of the following materials: Alternatively, vermicomposting can be done indoors (more information is below).Ĭomposting in Your Backyard Ingredients for Composting If you don’t have an outside space for composting, consider participating in a local community-based composting program, which may collect your food scraps or have a designated location where you can drop them off. Vermicomposting (worm composting) with a bin.Backyard composting with a pile or a bin you can build yourself or purchase.There are different ways to compost at home: You can use your compost to build healthier soil, prevent soil erosion, conserve water, and improve plant growth in your garden and yard.You save money by producing a free, high quality soil amendment – compost, which reduces your use of fertilizer and pesticides.Composting involves minimal effort, equipment, expense, and expertise, and can be fun.You reduce the volume of materials that might otherwise be disposed in landfills or trash incinerators - leaves, grass clippings, yard trim, and food scraps – and prevent powerful greenhouse gases from being emitted into the atmosphere.Composting is a resourceful way to recycle the food scraps and yard trim you generate at home all year and manage your waste more sustainably.By turning our food scraps and yard trim into compost, we can transform our waste streams into a beneficial, value-added soil amendment and use it to protect the environment and create resilient communities. It is one of the most powerful actions we can take to reduce our trash, address climate change, and build healthy soil. If you are a community looking to support your constituents in their efforts to compost at home, or wish to increase participation in a curbside collection program, you may be interested in the following resource: Composting Food Scraps in Your Community: A Social Marketing Toolkit.Ĭomposting is nature’s way of recycling.
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