Presentation created by Amy Donovan, Program Director

Why compost?Composting saves money

For your home: use less “Pay As You Throw” town trash bags by keeping food out of your bag; use less leaf bags for yard waste

For your town: less trash pickup = lower trucking/hauling, trash disposal costs (save money for roads, sidewalks, parks, snow removal)

For your yard and garden: buy less synthetic chemical fertilizers, soil; water less often

For your apartment building: less costly trash, overflowing stinky dumpster, noisy pickups

Composting keeps food waste out of landfills

Composting saves space in landfills

Photo of Northampton landfill, June 2008

Composting helps slow Climate Change

Climate Change (or Global Warming) is caused by greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.

Greenhouse Gases:Carbon Dioxide

MethaneNitrous Oxide

The Climate Change Connection

When food waste (and paper) biodegrade in a landfill, methane is released.

Methane is a greenhouse gas 23 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.

Over a 20-year period, methane can be 72 times more potent than carbon dioxide!!

Methane pipe at a landfill

Why doesn’t composting release methane? Because oxygen is part of the composting process. There is no oxygen in a landfill.

Compost bins made from

reused pallets

Compost is great for plants: adds nutrients to soil.•used on farms for growing vegetables•in home gardens for growing flowers, vegetables•in landscaping

Farmland

Finished compost

How does it work?Compost uses nature’s recycling program:

Plants, trees and leaves decompose.They become soil, or compost.The compost feeds the plants.

How does it work?A compost bin needs:

Water: material in bin should be as damp as a wrung out sponge. Add water if not, and when building pile. Add sparingly in winter.

Air/ Oxygen: mix/stir occasionally

“Green” materials: (nitrogen) food waste

“Brown” materials: (carbon) leaves, hay, shredded and soaked newspaper, egg cartons

Microorganisms: eat material and heat it up

3 “sizes” of composting:Small: An indoor worm bin, uses red wiggler worms to eat food waste (vermicomposting)Accepts only fruit, veggie, some bread/ grain waste

Medium: Backyard composting Earth Machine, other store bought bins; Reused pallet bin - almost freeAccepts wider range food, yard waste: No animal products

Windrows at Bear Path Farm, Whately

LARGE: Bear Path Farm, Whately. “On-Farm” Compost programs (also Martin’s Farm, Clear View Composting) accept:• ALL food, including meat, poultry, bones, cheese, oils• Paper including paper plates, napkins, paper towels(Buy compost at farm by the pail; or have it delivered.)

The Yes and No of home composting:

YES; Green/Nitrogen-rich:Veggies, fruit, & peelsBread, rice, pasta, grainsCoffee grounds, paper coffee filters, tea bagsEggshellsGrass clippings, yard waste

NO; will smell and attract animals:Meat, fish, bonesCheese, dairyFat, grease, oils, peanut butterCooked foods with lots of sauces/ butter

Also:Diseased or insect-ridden plantsWeeds which spread by roots and runnersWeeds with seeds

YES; Brown/Carbon-rich:• Fall leaves• Straw, hay• Shredded newspaper or paper• Chinet paper plates (rip up)• Egg cartons (rip up)• Wood chips• Old potting soil (dead houseplants)

Setting up your binPut bin in an easily accessible place (winter)Place bin in sunny spot away from neighbors(won’t smell if you use plenty of leaves and bury waste; no animal products)

Gather for set up:Food WasteLots and lots of fall leaves/ brown materials Finished compost or garden soil (2-3 shovel-fulls)Shovel or pitchforkHose or bucket(s) of water(no water in winter)

Setting up your binBuild Pile:

Add leaves/ brown materials to ½ fullAdd finished compost/ soilAdd any other green/ brown materials in layersBury food waste in middle, cover with leaves Each time you add food waste, bury in center and cover with leaves/ brown materials (ripped up egg cartons, paper towels)

Add remaining leaves to fill up to topSlowly add water to moisten pile

Keep it cookin’Each time you add food waste, bury in center and cover with leaves/ brown materials.Add leaves or brown materials regularly. (keep the ratio 3 parts brown, one part green)Add water regularly (keep moist as a wrung out sponge)

Stir entire pile every month or 2.Once you have a bin full of materials (in 6-12 months), stop adding materials and stir more frequently. When the compost is finished, use on gardens and when planting new plants.

Links for more infoUsing finished compost:

http://www.homecompostingmadeeasy.com/finishedcompost.htmlhttp://www.composting101.com/using-compost.html

General Links:Mass DEP: http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/reduce/composti.htmFCSWMD: http://www.franklincountywastedistrict.org/composting.htmlEPA: http://www.epa.gov/waste/conserve/rrr/composting/index.htm http://www.howtocompost.org/ http://www.mastercomposter.com/

Questions? Need more info? Presentation created by:

Amy DonovanProgram DirectorFranklin County Solid Waste Management District 50 Miles Street, Greenfield, MA 01301 (413) 772-2438amy@franklincountywastedistrict.orgwww.franklincountywastedistrict.org