About Composting

All organic matter eventually breaks down. Purposeful Composting uses the same principles that nature uses - we just try to speed it up by creating an environment that supports microbial activity. Yard trimmings and food residuals together constitute 26 percent of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream, according to the EPA. By composting, we can use these materials for the benefit of our soil, and keep it out of our landfills. Composting organic materials that have been diverted from landfills ultimately avoids the production of methane and leachate formulation in the landfills. Compost has the ability to prevent pollutants in stormwater runoff from reaching surface water resources.

Compost also has the ability to help regenerate poor soil. The composting process encourages the production of beneficial micro-organisms (mainly bacteria and fungi) which in turn break down organic matter to create humus -a rich nutrient-filled material. Humus increases the nutrient content in soils and helps soils retain moisture. Compost has also been shown to suppress plant diseases and pests, reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers, and promote higher yields from plants.

All composting requires three basic ingredients:

Browns—Includes materials such as dead leaves, branches , twigs
Greens—Includes materials such as grass clippings, vegetable waste, fruit scraps, and coffee grounds
Water

Having the right amount of greens, browns, and water is important for compost development. Ideally, our compost pile should have an equal amount of browns to greens and alternate layers of organic materials of different-size particles. The brown materials provide carbon for our compost and the green materials provide nitrogen, while the water provides moisture to help breakdown the organic matter.

The Community Garden's Compost Bins - The "Ins and Outs" Any questions, please Check with the Garden Coordinator.

What to Compost - The IN List

Animal ( cow or horse) manure
Cardboard rolls
Clean paper
Coffee grounds and filters
Cotton rags
Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint
Eggshells
Fireplace ashes (burned wood)
Fruits and vegetables
Grass clippings
Hair and fur
Hay and straw
Houseplants
Leaves
Nut shells
Sawdust
Shredded newspaper
Tea bags
Wood chips
Wool rags
Yard trimmings

What Not to Compost - The OUT List

Leave Out/Reason Why

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

Roxborough Presbyterian Community Garden