How to properly Compost

Composting at home is not something that most households do even though it is one of the best things you can do for your garden and our earth. By composting your food scraps at home, you can reduce your garbage by up to 20-30% (Source)! Any food that is left in the garbage and taken to a landfill will eventually degrade and produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Keep reading on to see how you can do your part!

This website shows you what you can compost and what to compost the food with. One of the best and easiest resources!

Here are some tips in composting from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Earth911 is just a generally great website to explore.

Here are some tips from the website on how start your own outdoor 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.

And here is what you CAN compost: 

  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Eggshells
  • Coffee grounds and filters
  • Tea bags
  • Nut shells
  • Shredded newspaper
  • Cardboard
  • Paper
  • Yard trimmings
  • Grass clippings
  • Houseplants
  • Hay and straw
  • Leaves
  • Sawdust
  • Wood chips
  • Cotton and Wool Rags
  • Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint
  • Hair and fur
  • Fireplace ashes

…and what you cannot:

  • Black walnut tree leaves or twigs
    – Releases substances that might be harmful to plants
  • Coal or charcoal ash
    – Might contain substances harmful to plants
  • Dairy products (e.g., butter, milk, sour cream, yogurt) and eggs*
    – Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
  • Diseased or insect-ridden plants
    – Diseases or insects might survive and be transferred back to other plants
  • Fats, grease, lard, or oils*
    – Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
  • Meat or fish bones and scraps*
    – Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
  • Pet wastes (e.g., dog or cat feces, soiled cat litter)*
    – Might contain parasites, bacteria, germs, pathogens, and viruses harmful to humans
  • Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides
    – Might kill beneficial composting organisms
    * Check with your local composting or recycling coordinator to see if these organics are accepted by your community curbside or drop-off composting program.

All above information came directly from this website.

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