Composting
A T H O M E
R o b e r t R y n k & M i c h a e l C o l t
Introduction
Composting is a simple, rewarding way to recycle yard trimmings
and food scraps at home while creating compost, a valuable soil
amendment for gardens and lawns.
Food scraps and yard trimmings, such as leaves, grass clippings,
garden debris, and brush, make up over 20% of a typical
household’s solid wastes. When treated as trash, these materials
increase the cost of collecting and handling community solid
wastes. In the landfill, they consume valuable space and create
potential pollutants such as leachate and methane gas. By
composting at home, you help to reduce the cost and environmen-
tal risks of managing solid waste materials.
But equally important, yard trimmings and food scraps contain
valuable soil-building nutrients and organic compounds which
nature normally recycles through the decay process. By
composting organic materials, you can accomplish the same thing.
Compost is easy to handle and rich in organic matter. It is prized by
gardeners and landscapers as a soil amendment, mulch, and
source of plant nutrients.
Composting at Home explains the benefits and basics of backyard
composting. It covers the composting process, the ingredients and
methods for building a compost pile, how to manage it, and how to
use compost. You will find enough information here to start and
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manage a composting pile. A list of suggested reading and
Web sites is included if you wish to learn more about this
simple and beneficial process.
Nearly anyone can practice composting—it is not just for garden-
ers. In fact, you do not need to use compost yourself to benefit
from composting. As long as you have food scraps or yard
trimmings, and you enjoy recycling, you will find composting
rewarding. Furthermore, composting can be done in small
spaces, as small as the corner of an apartment patio. Here are
some composting ideas for people who don’t have a garden or
large area for composting.
COMPOSTING
FOR NON-
GARDENERS
OR IN
SMALL SPACES
Figure