This document discusses different methods for composting organic waste at home. It explains that composting involves decomposing organic materials like plant matter into a nutrient-rich soil amendment called compost. Various techniques are described such as bin composting, tumbler composting, and pile composting. The document provides tips for maintaining proper conditions for decomposition, including balancing carbon-rich and nitrogen-rich materials and keeping the compost pile moist and aerated. It notes that composting reduces waste and provides a natural fertilizer for gardens and lawns.

1. Composting:
the rotten truth
Anne Kolaczyk
Purdue University Master Gardener
©2006Anne Kolaczyk

2. Composting
Composting is the transformation of
organic material (plant matter) through
decomposition into a soil-like material
called compost.
Invertebrates (insects and earthworms),
and microorganisms (bacteria and fungi)
help in this transformation.

3. Kinds
 Bin composting
 Tumbler composting
 Sunken pail composting
 Sheet composting
 Anaerobic composting
 Vermicomposting

4. Why do it
 Environmentally responsible
 Keeps biodegradable waste out of
landfills and sewage plants
 Alternative to burning
 Gives you a vibrant garden
without chemical fertilizers
 Saves money
 Learning tool

5. What it involves
 Adding ingredients
 Maintaining proper temperature
 Turning
 Maintaining moisture
 Harvesting

6. Bin composting
“backyard composting”

7. Composting bins
 Ready made
 Homemade
 Bin-less pile

8. Ready made
 Expensive
 Limited capacity
 Good if space is an
issue

9. Homemade
 Three bins are best
 One to fill
 One that’s “cooking”
 One to turn others into or to draw from

10. Bin-less pile
 Just a pile with no partitions
 Hard to maintain sufficient depth to
achieve high enough temperatures
 Easy and nothing to build
 Moveable

11. What you can compost
 Yard waste
 Kitchen scraps
 Newspaper
 Cardboard

12. What not to compost
 Meat scraps
 Bones
 Dairy products
 Pet waste
 Diseased plants
 Invasive weeds

13. C:N ratio
 Should be 30 parts carbon to 1 part
nitrogen by weight
 Grass Clippings 19:1
 Leaves 40:1
 Equal weight of each would give you
approximately 30:1 ratio for pile

14. What’s what
 Brown (Carbon)
 Leaves
 Dirt
 Grocery bags
 Bird seed hulls
 Wood chips
 Green (Nitrogen)
 Grass clippings
 Plant clippings
 Fertilizer
 Coffee grounds

15. C:N ratio, my take
Whatever!

16. Care of compost
 Passive
 Let sit
 Takes months and months
 Active
 Turn often
 Keep moist (H2O 40-60% of weight)
 Have proper ratio of C:N (30:1)
 2-6 weeks (depending on ingredients)

17. Let’s get real
Concerns Solutions
I don’t have room Use commercial bin
It takes too long  Maintain proper conditions
 Cut up large pieces
It smells Not if you maintain C:N ratio
Temps too low to kill
diseases, fungi, weed seeds
Use local community composting
facility for problem pieces,
compost the rest
Attracts animals Bury food waste in center

18. Uses
 Early stages as mulch
 Keeps weeds from growing
 Helps retain moisture
 Beneficial minerals go into soil
 Later stages for soil amending
 Enriches soil
 Helps with moisture retention
 Removes/reduces need for chemical
fertilizers that leach into our ground water

19. What method is right for me???
 How much space do I have?
 Is it indoor or outdoor or both?
 What do I want to compost?
 How much waste do I have a week?
 How and where do I want to use the compost?
 How much time can I spend on it a week?
 What’s my ewww! factor?
 How committed am I to composting?

20. Resources
 Purdue Extension office
 Library
 Internet

21. Anaerobic
Vermi
Sheet
Pail
Tumbler
Bin
composting
Just do it!