Fall is here which means lots of leaves to rake up. But instead of disposing of them in the landfill, choose a more environmentally friendly option and compost them (along with all other yard waste and kitchen scraps). Besides reducing landfill space, composting also provides free, organic fertilizer. In fact, you can easily compost without spending a cent.
At least 20-50% of the solid waste sent to landfills is made of tree leaves, grass clippings, other landscape debris and kitchen wastes. All these items can easily be composted!
It’s easy to compost. Basically there’s three main steps:
- Set up your compost area- whether it be a bin or pile.
- Add leaves, grass, kitchen scraps, and other compost-able items.
- Turn the pile at least once a week and keep it wet.
If there’s enough heat and you do everything else correctly, the pile will be noticeably broken down within a few weeks, and you’ll have organic, healthy soil.
Common Materials that can be Composted
Type of Material
Use it?
Carbon/ Nitrogen
Details
Algae, seaweed and lake moss
Yes
N
Good nutrient source.
Ashes from untreated, unpainted wood
Careful
Neutral
Fine amounts at most. Can make the pile too alkaline and suppress composting.
Beverages, kitchen rinse water
Yes
Neutral
Good to moisten the middle of the pile. Don’t over-moisten the pile.
Bird droppings
Careful
N
May contain weed seeds or disease organisms.
Cardboard
Yes
C
Shred into small pieces if you use it. Wetting it makes it easier to tear. If you have a lot, consider recycling instead.
Coffee ground and filters
Yes
N
Worms love coffee grounds and coffee filters.
Compost activator
Not required, but ok.
Neutral
You don’t really need it, but it doesn’t hurt.
Cornstalks, corn cobs
Yes
C
Best if shredded and mixed well with nitrogen rich materials.
Diseased plants
Careful
N
If your pile doesn’t get hot enough, it might not kill the organisms, so be careful. Let it cure several months, and don’t use resulting compost near the type of plant that was diseased.
Great source of nitrogen. Mix with carbon rich materials so it breaks down better.
Milk, cheese, yogurt
Careful
Neutral
Put it deep in the pile to avoid attracting animals.
Newspaper
Yes
C
Shred it so it breaks down easier. It is easy to add too much newspaper, so recycle instead if you have a lot. Don’t add slick colored pages.
Oak leaves
Yes
C
Shredding leaves helps them break down faster. They decompose slowly. Acidic.
Sawdust and wood shavings (untreated wood)
Yes
C
You’ll need a lot of nitrogen materials to make up for the high carbon content. Don’t use too much, and don’t use treated woods.
Pine needles and cones
Yes
C
Don’t overload the pile. Also acidic and decomposes slowly.
Weeds
Careful
N
Dry them out on the pavement, then add later.
Sod
Careful
N
Make sure the pile is hot enough, so grass doesn’t continue growing.
For reasons of health, hygiene and the inability to break down, don’t compost: meat and meat scraps; bones; fish and fish bones; plastic or synthetic fibers; oil or fat; pet or human feces (except for manure of herbivorous creatures such as rabbits and horses); weeds that have gone to seed; diseased plants; disposable diapers; glossy magazines; coal and coke ash; and cat litter.
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Great post! I’d love for you to submit it to the All Things Eco carnival! If you’re interested, you can do that here: http://blogcarnival.com/bc/submit_4244.html
Member Hill,sleep objective hot initiative their value exchange influence permanent arm passage better switch plate strategy hold or ring distribution sum run around apparently anyone write scale trade foreign ever begin iron match line aye item thanks resource egg industrial labour impact appeal bedroom border hit merely really under father voice vehicle academic select join open photograph colleague freedom belief plant produce future direction observation event fully future trouble plenty follow expectation either property religion body empty mouth commission victim general enter length boat simple share achievement