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Compost at Home 
 
Here's the dirt on composting. It's simple to do. All you need to get started is a little time, a little space, a bin and a basic understanding of the composting process. 
Composting is nature's way of recycling. It is the natural decomposition of organic material (from plants and animals) such as leaves, yard trimmings and food waste (e.g., fruit and vegetable scraps). Microorganisms and insects break down this material into compost  a crumbly, dark-colored, earthy-smelling, soil-like material. Compost is a nutrient-rich product that can be used in your garden and flower beds and on your lawn. 
 
COMPOSTING: STEP BY STEP 
 
Begin with the bin. 
 
1 
 
Ideally, your compost pile 
 
should be at least 3 feet 
 
wide, 3 feet deep and 3 feet 
 
tall. Compost bins can be 
 
purchased or made at home 
 
with scrap wood and wire 
 
mesh or an old trash can. 
 
Pick a location. 
 
2 
 
Pick a dry, shady spot near a 
 
water source in your backyard. 
 
It needs to be at least 2 feet 
 
away from any structures 
 
including fences. There should 
 
be enough space to add 
 
materials as well as turn and 
 
harvest your compost. 
 
Follow the recipe. 
 
3 
 
Making compost is a lot like 
 
cooking a meal  you need a 
 
recipe. The basic ingredients 
 
are 3 parts "browns" to 1 part 
 
"greens," in alternating layers. 
 
See the back for more details. 
 
Add water. 
 
4 
 
Water is important. Too little 
 
moisture will inhibit the 
 
composting process. Too 
 
much moisture will cause the 
 
compost pile to smell. Here's 
 
a simple tip to follow  the 
 
compost pile should be as 
 
moist as a sponge. 
 
Mix it up. 
 
5 
 
Air is essential. Use a 
 
pitchfork, shovel or roll your 
 
barrel to turn your compost 
 
pile at least once a week 
 
to inhibit odor-causing 
 
bacteria and to speed up the 
 
composting process. 
 
All done! 
 
6 
 
As materials break down the 
 
pile will get warm. Don't be 
 
alarmed if there is steam. Now 
 
just wait  you could have 
 
finished compost in as little 
 
as 12 weeks. When your pile 
 
has no remnants of food and 
 
is a dark, soil-like material, it's 
 
ready! 
 
 What goes in and what stays out? 
 
Can be Composted GREENS Fruits and Vegetables Eggshells Coffee Grounds and Filters Tea Bags Nut Shells Fresh Grass Clippings House Plants Dryer and Vacuum Lint Hair and Fur 
Can be Composted BROWNS Shredded Newspaper Cardboard Brown Paper (e.g., napkins, paper towels) Yard Trimmings Dead Grass Clippings, Leaves and Twigs Hay and Straw Sawdust and Pencil Shavings Wood Chips and Mulch Cotton and Wool Rags Fireplace Ashes 
 
should not be Composted Items to Avoid Black Walnut Tree Leaves or Twigs Coal or Charcoal Ash Dairy Products Eggs (shells are OK) Diseased or Insect-Ridden Plants Fats, Grease, Lard or Oils Meats or Bones Fish Bones or Scraps Pet Waste Treated Paper Products Plastics, Metals or Glass Chemical Products 
Remember to turn or mix your compost at least once per week. 
 
Problems and Solutions 
1. The pile doesn't heat up. If the pile is new, try adding more "greens" or water to your pile. If your pile is old and you've turned it a few times, it may be finished composting. 
2. It smells like ammonia. If the pile is too wet, turn it with a shovel or pitchfork to let in air and mix it up. Add "browns" to the pile. Ammonia odors often indicate too many "greens." 
3. The pile is attracting scavengers. Don't add food waste with oils, meats or dairy. Keep "greens" covered with a layer of "browns." 
Need Help? 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers basic information on composting in your backyard or indoors depending on the space at www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home. 
The Natural Resources Defense Council also provides tips for composting at www.nrdc.org/stories/composting-wayeasier-you-think. 
Many local governments also offer workshops, often with opportunities to buy compost bins at reduced prices or at cost. Check with your local recycling coordinator. 
 
The Benefits of Backyard Composting 
 Compost reduces the amount of waste a household generates. 
 Compost reduces or eliminates chemical fertilizer and pesticide use. 
 Compost improves soil by increasing aeration (the ability of air to circulate) and water-holding capacity (reducing your need to water) as well as helping plants absorb nutrients. Compost also helps suppress plant diseases and pests. 
 Composting at home can save you money. 
 
For more information, visit www.epd.georgia.gov/food-residuals- 
diversion or call 404-362-2663. 
Content provided by: South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling  www.scdhec.gov/recycle 
Printed on RECYCLED Paper