With yard and garden wastes, different composting materials will decompose at different rates, but they will all break down eventually. Chop up any large chunks before you toss them in. If you don’t mind occasional smells, use an old ice-cream pail. A stainless steel compost pail with an carbon filter or a ceramic model will cut down on odors. To store kitchen waste until you’re ready to transfer it to your composter, keep a container with a lid and a handle under the sink. Related: The Easiest Way to Start Composting Now TIP: Storing Compost in the Kitchen Only use weeds which have not gone to seedĪdd in thin layers so they don't mat into clumps High carbon levels add in layers to avoid clumping Straw is best hay (with seeds) is less idealĪvoid using glossy paper and colored inksĪpply in thin layers good source for trace minerals Only use ash from clean materials sprinkle lightly If in doubt, add more carbon! This table details how the items in your compost are likely to be classified: Material Good composting hygiene means covering fresh nitrogen-rich material, which can release odors if exposed to open air, with carbon-rich material, which often exudes a fresh, wonderful smell. Too much nitrogen makes for a dense, smelly, slowly decomposing anaerobic mass. The bulkiness of the brown materials allows oxygen to penetrate and nourish the organisms that reside there. A simple rule of thumb is to use one-third green and two-thirds brown materials. Nitrogen or protein-rich matter (manures, food scraps, green lawn clippings, kitchen waste, and green leaves) provides raw materials for making enzymes.Ī healthy compost pile should have much more carbon than nitrogen. The Secret to a Healthy Compost Pile: Carbon/Nitrogen RatioĬarbon-rich matter (like branches, stems, dried leaves, peels, bits of wood, bark dust or sawdust pellets, shredded brown paper bags, corn stalks, coffee filters, coffee grounds, conifer needles, egg shells, straw, peat moss, wood ash) gives compost its light, fluffy body.Ī healthy compost pile should have much more carbon than nitrogen. The secret to a healthy compost pile is to maintain a working balance between these two elements. All compostable materials are either carbon or nitrogen-based, to varying degrees. What you can put into your compost will depend somewhat on what kind of composter you have, but some general rules do apply. Related: Best Compost Bins and Tumblers Reviewed Diverting this waste from the landfill means that our landfills will last longer (and so will our wild spaces). One-third of landfill waste is made up of compostable materials. Most landfills in North America are quickly filling up many have already closed down. Good for the EnvironmentĬomposting offers a natural alternative to chemical fertilizers when applied to lawns and garden beds. Microscopic organisms in compost help aerate the soil, break down organic materials for plant use, and ward off plant disease. ![]() ![]() Introduces Beneficial Organisms to the Soil Instead, it creates harmful methane gas as it breaks down, increasing the rate of global warming and climate change. That’s important because when organic matter hits the landfill, it lacks the air it needs to decompose quickly. Recycles Kitchen and Yard WasteĬomposting can divert as much as 30% of household waste away from the garbage can. ![]() They don’t call it “black gold” for nothing.Ĭompost is the single most important supplement you can give your garden. This adds nutrients to your plants and helps retain soil moisture. With compost, you are creating rich humus for your lawn and garden.
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