Backyard composting turns organic wastes—grasses, leaves, garden debris and vegetable and fruit scraps—into a nutrient-rich mixture that you can add to your yard or garden. It’s easy to get started. Here are some simple things you need to know to start your own backyard composting.
Get a compost bin Compost bins are sold at
The Recycling Zone. They measure 36 inches long, 32 inches wide and 32 inches tall and have a 32-gallon capacity. They come in two pieces and fit into most vehicles. They are the ideal size for backyard composting.
Compost bins can also be purchased at many retail and garden stores, or you can make your own compost bin. Visit
reduce.org to find out how.
What to put in a compost pile What goes in
- Grass clippings
- Leaves
- Garden debris
- Vegetable and fruit scraps
What stays out
- Food with meat, dairy, or oils
- Pet feces
- Diseased plants
- Weeds gone to seed
- Ash from charcoal or coal
How to do it
Add equal parts of carbon (brown materials) and nitrogen (green materials) to your compost bin. Brown materials can be leaves, sawdust, cornstalks, and straw. Green materials can be grass clippings, fruit and vegetable scraps and trimmings from your garden. Turn the compost pile frequently to get the pile to decompose quickly and with little odor. Keep the compost moist, like a damp sponge.
Using the finished compost
- Mix compost in with your soil to improve quality.
- Use it to fill in low spots in your yard.
- Use it as mulch for landscaping and garden plants.
- Mix compost in the soil for potted plants.
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