How to Compost

1. Composting Basics

What Is Composting?

Composting is a natural way to turn food scraps and yard waste into rich soil for your garden. With the right mix of materials, water and air, the materials break down over time and become finished compost.

Why Compost?

• Keeps food scraps and yard waste out of the landfill.
• Helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Creates rich soil for lawns and gardens.
• Helps soil hold water.
• Can reduce the need to buy fertilizer.

2. What Can I Compost?

A healthy compost pile needs a mix of food scraps, fresh yard waste and dry materials. Food scraps and fresh materials help the pile break down. Dry materials help control moisture and prevent bad smells.

Try to add two or three containers of dry materials for every one container of food scraps or fresh materials.

Add Often

Food Scraps and Fresh Materials

• Fruit scraps
• Vegetable scraps
• Clean, crushed eggshells
• Coffee grounds
• Paper coffee filters
• Fresh grass clippings added in thin layers
• Houseplant trimmings

Dry Materials

• Dry leaves
• Dry yard waste
• Shredded cardboard without a wax or plastic coating
• Shredded black-and-white newspaper
• Hay
• Straw
• Wood chips that have not been painted or treated
• Shredded cotton or wool cloth

Add in Small Amounts

• Bread and grains may attract pests. Add only small amounts and bury them near the middle of the pile.
• Nutshells may take longer to break down. Crush them into smaller pieces before adding them.
• Hair and fur may take longer to break down. Spread them throughout the pile instead of adding them in a clump.
• Grass clippings can stick together and begin to smell. Add them in thin layers and mix them with dry materials.

Do Not Add

• Meat, fish or bones
• Fat, grease, lard or oil
• Milk, cheese, butter or other dairy products
• Whole eggs
• Plants with diseases or large amounts of insects
• Charcoal or coal ashes
• Painted or chemically treated materials
• Plastic, glass, metal or other items that will not break down
• Cat or dog waste
• Pet litter

3. Choose a Location

• Place the composter directly on open soil.
• Choose a dry spot with shade or some sunlight.
• Place it near a clean water source so you can add water when needed.
• Choose a spot that is easy to reach because you will be adding food scraps often.
• Use the four plastic screws that came with the composter to secure it to the ground.

4. How to Compost

1. Add Your Materials

• Cut, shred or tear large items into smaller pieces so they break down faster.
• Line your indoor food scrap container with newspaper to soak up extra liquid.
• Add the newspaper to the composter when you empty the container.
• Add your food scraps or fresh yard waste.
• Cover fresh materials with dry leaves, shredded paper, cardboard or other dry materials.

2. Keep the Compost Healthy

• Keep adding a mix of fresh and dry materials.
• Try to add two or three containers of dry materials for every one container of fresh materials.
• Cover new food scraps with dry leaves, shredded paper, cardboard, dry yard waste or soil.
• Add water when needed. The compost should feel damp like a squeezed-out sponge, not soaking wet.
• Stir or turn the compost from time to time to let air into the pile.

3. Collect Finished Compost

• Compost is usually ready in about four to six months.
• It is ready when it is dark and crumbly, smells like soil and no longer looks like the original food or yard waste.
• To collect a small amount, use the door at the bottom of the composter.
• To collect a larger amount, remove the screws that hold the composter in place and lift off the container.
• Put any large pieces that have not fully broken down back into the composter.

5. Fix Common Problems

The Compost Smells Bad

Add more dry leaves, shredded paper or cardboard. Stir the compost to mix everything together and let in more air.

The Compost Is Too Wet

Add dry leaves, shredded paper or cardboard. Stir the compost until the dry materials are mixed throughout the pile.

The Compost Is Too Dry

Add a small amount of water and stir the compost. It should feel damp like a squeezed-out sponge.

The Materials Are Not Breaking Down

Cut large items into smaller pieces, stir the compost and check the moisture. The pile should be damp but not soaking wet.

The Compost Is Attracting Pests

Make sure food scraps are covered with dry materials. Do not add meat, dairy products, grease, oil or pet waste.

6. How to Use Finished Compost

• Mix compost into garden soil before planting.
• Spread a thin layer over your lawn to help keep the soil healthy.
• Add compost to flower beds, raised garden beds and outdoor pots.
• Spread compost around trees and shrubs, but leave at least 4 inches of open space around each trunk.

A healthy compost pile needs both fresh and dry materials. Food scraps, help the pile break down, while dry materials help control moisture and prevent bad smells.