Transcript Home Composting 101

Home Composting
101
RECYCLE UTAH, YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY RECYCLING CENTER SINCE 1990
PARK CITY, UTAH
What is Composting?
Why Should We Do It?

Composting is the accelerated break-down of organic
material

It can divert up to 30% of waste headed for the landfill

Composting regulates water retention and improves
soil structure

Protection against erosion and soil-borne diseases

Humus, composting’s end-product, is nutrient-rich and
can act as a chemical free, organic fertilizer
The Big Four
GREENS

Nitrogen-rich, moist
materials that will help
provide heat for the
decomposition process

Fruit and vegetable scraps

Grass clippings

Flowers

Corn cobs and stalks

Coffee grounds and filters
BROWNS

Carbon-rich, dry, anything
from a tree

Leaves, twigs, and pine
needles

Egg shells

Shredded newspaper

Cardboard scraps

Fireplace ashes

Straw and Hay
Water & Oxygen

Water creates a moist
environment that is required
for the break-down process
to work

Compost piles shrink
considerably due to water
loss

Aerobic bacteria needs to
be created by leaving
space for air (and oxygen!)
to move
Compostable vs. Non-Compostable
Compostable

Fruit and vegetable scraps

Grass, tree, and hedge clippings

Non-Compostable

Bread products – pasta, cakes, or
baked goods
Hair and nail clippings

Cooking oils or animal fats

Egg Shells

Meat and bones

Coffee grounds, filters, and tea
bags

Dairy Products

Rice
Shredded newspaper and
cardboard scraps

Walnuts

Animal and human feces

Diseased plants


Paper napkins and plates
Household Compost Structures
 No bin system
 Loose system
without
barriers
 This method is
not suggested
for kitchen
waste
 One bin
system
 Hoop system
composter
 Can be
homemade,
or bought at
Recycle Utah
 Can easily be
homemade
with recycled
chicken-wire
and wooden
stakes
 A homemade
composter
made from
recycled
wooden
pallets
 Pallets can be
found at
Recycle Utah
Compost Preparation

Initial Prep

You will need to pick a level, welldrained area for the compost
heap

Your compost heap needs to be at
least 4 x 4 feet

Rake the ground before starting
the compost heap
Compost Preparation

Layers

For a functional compost system, you
will need one part green matter to
three parts brown matter

Layer 1: Brown matter like dry leaves
to ensure airflow and to add carbon

Layer 2: Green matter like kitchen
waste to add nitrogen

Layer 3: A small layer of soil to add
microorganisms
Compost Preparation

Water and Oxygen

The compost heap will need
periodic watering

The compost heap will need
periodic movement

The movement will fuel the
microorganisms and the
decomposition process by allowing
oxygen to flow
Potential Problems with your
Compost
Not Hot Enough



If the compost is below 140
degrees Fahrenheit, it is important
to know that the decomposition
process is still happening, just at a
slower rate
Problem: The compost pile is too
small
Solution: Collect more brown and
green matter to mix into the pile
Too Dry

The center of the compost pile is
too dry – dryer than a damp
washcloth

Problem: Not enough water

Solution: Mix in more green matter,
add water, and turn the pile
Potential Problems with your
Compost
Bad Odor
Too Wet

The compost heap is not
supposed to smell bad

The compost heap should be as
moist as a damp washcloth

Problem: The compost heap is too
wet, without sufficient oxygen

Problem: Lack of nitrogen

Solution: Mix in green matter like
fruit and veggie scraps, or grass
clippings

Solution: Mix in brown matter, and
turn the pile
Black Gold - The Finished Product
What is Humus?
What can you do with it?

Humus is what you’re left with after
the composting process is
complete

Humus can be used in lieu of storebought soil for gardening beds
and potted plants

Once you can no longer discern
the original materials and the
matter is a rich brown color, you
know you have humus

Humus can replace chemical
fertilizers due to its high nutrient
content

Use as a root stabilizer or mulch
The Magical Organic Method
Trench
Composting
Composting
Pockets
Leave Grass
Clippings

Dig trenches in your
garden between raised
beds

Dig a hole in your
garden about a foot
and a half deep

Grass clippings are 85%
water and decompose
quickly

Fill the trenches with dry
or wet leaves

Fill the hole with kitchen
scraps, and cover with
soil

Set your mower to 3” tall

Leave the grass
clippings on the grass

The grass clippings will
serve as a natural
fertilizer for your lawn

By next growing season,
you will have trenches
filled with humus –
nutrient dense soil

By the next growing
season, you will have
pockets filled with humus
– nutrient dense soil
Sources and Credits

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthknd/compost/compost.html

Composting For Kids
http://sustainable.tamu.edu/slidesets/kidscompost/cover.html

SOCRRA - Home Composting. Recycle your yard waste the natural way.

Recycle Utah - Compost Benefits for healthy soils and water protection.