Composting 101: Discover a Valuable Resource
Originally published in The Record Review, April 2014:
By now most of us are familiar with composting at some level — the whys, the how-tos. Information about composting is widely broadcast. You can turn to government agencies, scientific and technical organizations, industry, educational institutions, civic and community groups, and publications to research and learn about composting. It’s an important issue and a concept that is at the very foundation of ensuring a sustainable future. Reducing our use of and reliance on the world’s natural resources, while working to restore the same, are the tenets of sustainability. Composting accomplishes both of these goals.
A United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report published in 2009 noted that the U.S. generated 243 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW). This includes everyday items such as product packaging, bottles, food scraps, newspapers, appliances, batteries, furniture, clothes and grass clippings. The number almost doubles when you add other items not considered to be MSW, but which may also end up in landfills, such as construction and demolition materials, municipal wastewater treatment sludge and nonhazardous industrial wastes. On a per capita basis, the 243 million tons of MSW equate to 4.34 pounds per person per day.
These statistics are astounding and have been steadily increasing since 1960. The good news, however, is that t he rate of recovery — that is the products removed from the waste stream for the purposes of recycling or composting — is also increasing. According to the EPA, the recovery rate as of 2009 was almost 34 percent. The message is simple: every little bit helps.
Do not let these statistics overwhelm you into inaction. Composting is essential and valuable. While the optimal goal is to reduce the waste stream, we can also balance the equation by composting and increasing the recovery rate.
Using the product of composting, the compost itself, is also important and valuable. Compost is worth its weight in gold. In fact it is often referred to as black gold. Adding compost to our soil improves the texture, structure, aeration, moisture level, drainage and utility of the soil. Compost balances the pH of soil and improves the electrical conductivity which helps plants access nutrients in the soil. The result is a better quality plant. One that thrives and is better equipped to ward off pests and disease, and, with respect to edible crops, one that has higher nutrient levels and tastes better. Use of compost also reduces and/ or eliminates the need to purchase and use chemical fertilizers. Topdressing lawns with compost improves the look of the lawn over time without using a chemical fertilizer.
There are very simple methods of composting and others that require more intensive management. Once you decide on a method it quickly becomes routine at which point you may incorporate several methods into your household.
Holding Units are plastic, enclosed, but aerated containers available at hardware stores, garden centers and online. They can be used to collect yard waste and kitchen scraps. Chopping and shredding waste will speed up the composting process and you will need to manually mix the contents. It is best to locate these near the home for convenience, especially during winter months.
Turning Units are also plastic, enclosed and aerated containers. However, these are barrel-shaped tumblers that allow you to easily spin the drum for more complete mixing. Compost is produced quicker as a result. Some turning units collect liquid at the base of the unit which can be used for compost tea, an organic, highnutrient based fertilizer.
Stock Pile Bins are holding bins made out of wood or wire. These are specifically used for yard waste such as leaves, twigs and grass clippings. These can be purchased, but are also easily made. A three-bin system can be made by nailing wooden pallets together to create three separate compartments, each open to the front. Fresh waste goes into the first compartment. Once it’s mostly composted you move it to the second bin to let it finish “cooking.” The third compartment holds finished and ready-to-use compost.
Piles are the simplest method of composting yard waste. Leaves, grass and garden clippings can just be piled up in an uncontained heap about 4 feet wide and tall. This provides enough surface area and heat to fuel the composting process.
Vermicomposting is small-scale composting and is done inside. It is an especially useful way to manage kitchen waste. Vermicomposting uses the red wiggler worm (Eisenia fetida), which can be purchased online. It is important to note that this type of worm is not native to our soil and is very efficient at breaking down waste, so careful measures should be taken to ensure that they are not added to the landscape. Worm box “condos” can be purchased or a simple worm box can be created using two plastic bins, one that fits snuggly inside the other. Holes are punctured on the lid to provide air to the worms and composting process. Add the worms, some shredded newspaper or brown bag and a small amount of soil. Next add kitchen waste (no meats, bones, fats, oils) and the worms do the rest. The worms digest the waste and produce worm castings, which are actually pure humus, the fundamental element of compost. The liquid generated makes for excellent compost tea, and the humus itself can be used. Carefully separate out the worms (this is where the compartmentalized worm “condos” come in handy) and then letting the humus dry out, it is then combined with soil to use in the garden.
Whatever method you choose, the basic ingredients of compost, i.e., what you put into the bins, is a simple formula: brown (carbon-rich) + green (nitrogen-rich) + water = compost.
The ideal carbon-nitrogen ratio for an active pile is 30:1, plus just enough water to maintain the pile moist but not soggy.
Kitchen greens: includes fruit and vegetable scraps, houseplant cuttings, coffee grounds, rice, pasta, eggshells and tea bags. Never any meat, bones, sauces, fats or oils, or pet waste.
Yard greens: includes flowers, vegetables, plant trimmings, hedge clippings and grass clippings. Careful to not include any clippings that appear to be diseased.
Kitchen browns: includes coffee filters, stale bread, paper napkins, dryer lint and hair. Do not include ashes.
Yard browns: includes leaves, straw or hay, small twigs, wood chips, dried grass and weeds. However, do not include any mature weeds with seeds that you do not want to appear in your lawn or garden.
It is also helpful to think of the process in terms of seasons:
Spring is a good time to dig out any finished compost from the bottom of the bin, then add some soil to what’s left to kick-start the composting process.
During summer, make sure to stir the pile frequently and add water should it appear dry. Be sure to cover freshly added waste with leaves to keep smells from developing in the summertime heat.
Dress your garden beds and lawn in the fall with the finished compost that was produced during the spring and summer. Fallen leaves can be added to the pile to provide the brown needed during the winter months.
Keep filling the bin with kitchen scraps during the winter. The decomposition process will slow during the colder temperature, but will pick up again in the spring.
