Learning About
COMPOSTING
COMPOSTING When we started Earth Week, we learned a little about what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does. One of the things they recommend at home is composting. More than 25% of what you throw away can be composted instead.
WHAT IS COMPOSTING? Composting is an aerobic method (this means that it uses air, not chemicals) to break down organic (living) waste. Examples of organic waste are leaves, grass, and food scraps. Over time, these items will naturally decompose, but we can help them along!
By composting these materials, we keep them out of landfills or other places where they don’t belong.
By composting these materials, we keep them out o
BROWNS
GREENS
This includes materials such as dead leaves, branches, and twigs.
This includes materials such as grass clippings, vegetable waste, fruit scraps, and coffee grounds.
of landfills or other places where they don’t belong.
WATER
TIME
Having the right amount of water, greens, and browns is important for compost development.
This process does not happen overnight!
The EPA says that your compost pile should have an equal amount of browns to greens. The brown materials provide carbon for your compost, the green materials provide nitrogen, and the water provides moisture to help break down the organic matter.
What Can Yo Fruits & Vegetables
Eggshells
Coffee G & Fil
Shredded Newspaper, Paper & Cardboard
Yard Trimmings/ Grass Clippings
Housep
Sawdust & Wood Chips
Cotton & Wool Rags
Dryer & V Cleane
ou Compost?
Grounds lters
Tea Bags
Nut Shells
plants
Hay & Straw
Leaves
Vacuum er Lint
Hair & Fur
Fireplace Ashes
WHY SHOULD YOU COMPOST?
Composting is good for soil. All those nutrients in the organic matter go back into the earth. This also means you won’t need as many chemical fertilizers. And, you keep all of that material out of landfills!
So How Can You Compost at Home? • Select a dry, shady spot near a water source for your compost pile or bin. • Add brown and green materials as they are collected, making sure larger pieces are chopped or shredded. • Moisten dry materials as they are added. • Once your compost pile is established, mix grass clippings and green waste into the pile and bury fruit and vegetable waste under 10 inches of compost material. • Optional: Cover top of compost with a tarp to keep it moist. When the material at the bottom is dark and rich in color, your compost is ready to use. This usually takes anywhere between two months to two years.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also create an indoor worm composting bin! https://www.epa.gov/recycle/how-create-and-maintainindoor-worm-composting-bin
Do you already compost? SHOW US! Did you start composting this week? SHOW US!
We hope you enjoyed learning about Composting!