Composting: a win-win for you and the planet

An ever-increasing number of residents and businesses are using composting as one part of their program to impact the environment in a positive way.

Putting organic materials — like food waste, yard waste and even paper— into a landfill doesn’t just fill it up, it actually makes the planet warm by releasing greenhouse gases. A landfill isn’t a giant compost bin. Materials buried there get densely packed in, giving them no access to the elements — especially oxygen.
Materials breaking down in a landfill do so anaerobically, or without oxygen, and over a significantly longer time than in a compost bin. This anaerobic decomposition produces methane, a potent
greenhouse gas.

Where do I buy a compost bin?

Local and chain hardware stores, home-improvement stores and some garden centers carry a variety of compost bins. The Master Composter’s program in Boulder County holds a spring compost bin sale every year; contact 303-441-3278.

You can also build a bin with four pallets placed on end and wired together.

Where do I put my compost bin?

If possible, place the bin in the shade in a place where the compost will have direct contact with the ground. This will help the moisture level stay higher. If the bin is going to be on concrete, you might want to buy or borrow some finished compost to get a little microbial activity going.

Do I need to prepare food waste
before it goes in the bin?

Is there anything
I shouldn’t compost?

Collect food waste in a lidded bucket or large food container, including melon rinds, carrot peelings, tea bags, apple cores, banana peels – almost everything that cycles through your kitchen. The average household produces more than 200 pounds of kitchen waste every year. You can successfully compost all forms of kitchen waste. However, meat, meat products, dairy products and high-fat foods like salad dressings and peanut butter, can present problems. Meat scraps and the rest will decompose eventually, but will smell bad and attract pests. Egg shells are a wonderful addition, but decompose slowly, so should be crushed. All additions to the compost pile will decompose more quickly if they are chopped up some before adding. Don’t forget the coffee grounds —these are great for your soil. Exclude any pet excrement.

What kind of maintenance
do I need to do?

For the most part, let the compost rot and go about your life. Water your pile from time to time if it dries out. Smelly compost is a cry for air. Using a pitchfork to turn the compost will increase airflow, speed up decomposition and help any odor problems.

Doesn’t compost smell?

Compost should not create an odor if you take care of it properly and don’t overload the system. Always bury the food waste by pulling aside some of the bedding, dumping the waste, and then cover it up with the bedding again. Bury successive loads in different locations in the bin.
Healthy compost smells like soil. If your compost is smelly, that’s a sign that it needs more air. Aerate your compost by regularly turning your pile.
How do I use compost?
Ready-to-use compost looks and smells like rich soil. Harvest your compost by skimming the unrotted stuff off the top and use the rest in your garden or with potted plants, houseplants, etc. following these simple directions:

• Flowers and vegetables: Work in half an inch of mature compost into the top 6 inches of the soil with a garden fork or rototiller. Be sure the soil isn’t wet, as this can result in an “adobe effect” when it dries, which adversely affects the plants.

• Perennials: Use compost as mulch to gradually improve the soil. Apply it an inch or so deep between the plants.

• Seedlings or potted flowers: Use 20 percent mature compost in the soil mix (if the mix you purchased doesn’t already contain compost or worm castings).

• Lawn: Sprinkle 1/8 to 1/4 inch of
fine compost evenly across the grass to improve the lawn’s ability to use fertilizers more efficiently so that less is needed. If you do fertilize your lawn, consider using one of the natural products based on recycled dried poultry wastes (often listed as DPW on the ingredient list) rather than synthetic chemicals.

• Trees and shrubs: Uncomposted wood
chips, grass clippings, and leaves can be spread around plantings. Be sure that woody wastes are shredded or chipped up.

• Indoor plants: Add small handfuls to the surface of the soil inside the pots. It will break down over time and provide nutrients as it decomposes.

– information from bouldercounty.org and other sources