Composting

Composting At Home

Compost is organic material that can be added to soil to help plants grow. Food scraps and yard waste together currently make up more than 30 percent of what we throw away, and could be composted instead. Making compost keeps these materials out of landfills where they take up space and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Benefits of Composting

1. Enriches soil, helping retain moisture and suppress plant diseases and pests.

2. Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.

3. Encourages the production of beneficial bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter to create humus, a rich nutrient-filled material.

4. Reduces methane emissions from landfills and lowers your carbon footprint.

Composting Basics

All composting requires three basic ingredients:

  • Browns - This includes materials such as dead leaves, branches, and twigs.

  • Greens - This includes materials such as grass clippings, vegetable waste, fruit scraps, and coffee grounds.

  • Water - Having the right amount of water, greens, and browns is important for compost development.

Your compost pile should have an equal amount of browns to greens. You should also alternate layers of organic materials of different-sized particles. The brown materials provide carbon for your compost, the green materials provide nitrogen, and the water provides moisture to help break down the organic matter.

Source: https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home#basics

  • Fruits and vegetables

    Crushed eggshells

    Coffee grounds and filters

    Tea bags

    Nut shells

    Shredded newspaper

    Shredded cardboard

    Shredded paper

    Yard trimmings

    Grass clippings

    Houseplants

    Hay and straw

    Leaves

    Sawdust

    Wood chips

    Hair and fur

    Fireplace ashes

  • Black walnut tree leaves or twigs- Releases substances that might be harmful to plants

    Coal or charcoal ash - Might contain substances harmful to plants

    Dairy products (e.g., butter, milk, sour cream, yogurt) and eggs* - Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies

    Diseased or insect-ridden plants- Diseases or insects might survive and be transferred back to other plants

    Fats, grease, lard, or oils* - Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies

    Meat or fish bones and scraps* - Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies

    Pet wastes (e.g., dog or cat feces, soiled cat litter)* - Might contain parasites, bacteria, germs, pathogens, and viruses harmful to humans

    Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides - Might kill beneficial composting organisms

    * If you have questions about acceptable compost organics, call our Main Office at 541-523-2626

Watch the composting video below from Oregon State University- Extension Services