Composting

Composting in your backyard is easy, fun and useful.

Composting breaks down your household organic materials into a rich new soil. It’s a great way to reduce your household waste. Your waste can go towards creating new life materials rather than going to the landfill. With composting, you can easily divert 20% of your household waste from the landfill to your garden, houseplants or lawn!

You can buy a composter at any home hardware retailer, but you can also make one easily. Check out these easy DIY projects that will give you an effective composter!

When it comes to composting, there is a simple recipe to follow:

Greens + Browns + Water + Air = Compost

Browns are materials that are high in carbon, like dried leaves and shredded paper. Greens are materials that are high in nitrogen, like grass clippings and vegetables. Along with the right amount of water and air, you end up with some quality compost soil.

Ok! I want to compost! What do I need to do to start?

First Step Find a spot and install/construct your composter

Find a suitable spot in your yard for your composter. You are looking for a sunny area that is level, has good drainage and is accessible year round.

Second Step Make your base layer

Add a base layer of twigs and very small branches in the bottom of your composter. This will let some air to enter your compost and allow it to drain.

Third Step Add in layers

Add materials in alternating layers. The ideal mix for a composter is 1 part Browns to 2 parts greens. If you have some compost that has already been made, add a layer to introduce the necessary microorganisms needed to make your composter work. Remember: A properly working composter does not emit odours!

Fourth Step Mix it up!

Turn and moisten your compost regularly to increase air circulation in your compost pile. Remember, your compost needs oxygen present to fuel the microorganisms and break down the composting materials. Your compost pile should also be kept moist, like a damp sponge. If it looks dry, water it!

Compost These Items

DO NOT Compost These Items

Tips for ideal composts!

Vegetable and fruit peelings
Leaves
Grass clippings
Coffee grounds and filters
Tea bags/leaves
Weeds (but before they seed)
Spent plants and flowers
Straw and hay
Corn cobs
Crushed egg shells
Bread, pasta or rice (but no oil/sauce)
Woodchips and sawdust
Hair and dryer lint

Ashes
Grass/tree clippings treated with chemicals
Rhubarb leaves and other toxic plants
Plants infected with disease
Mature weeds with seeds
Walnut shells
Charcoal/coal ashes
Dog or cat droppings
Litter box waste
Meat and bones
Seafood and shellfish
Plastics and metals
Dairy products
Fats and oils

Use a pitchfork or shovel to aerate your compost pile. Some hardware and home improvement stores sell aerators specially designed for composters
Save some of your leaves from the fall for use during the spring and summer
Your compost is ready when it is dark in colour, crumbles to the touch and has an earthy smell
Consider using a second composter - one you can add materials to while the other is finishing
Chop materials smaller to help them break down quicker

Troubleshoot Problems with your composter

My compost has a bad odour!	Not enough air or too wet Ammonia odour can occur when there are too many green materials (provides too much nitrogen)	Add dry ingredients, like dried leaves or shredded paper Turn/aerate the pile
My composter’s process seems slow or the compost pile will not heat up!	Pile lacks moisture or nitrogen Pieces may be too big	Check the moisture level of compost pile (should be like a wrung-out sponge) - if dry, moisten and mix Add high nitrogen materials, like grass clippings or vegetable scraps Chop waste materials into smaller pieces
My compost is too wet!	Poor drainage Soaked from rainfall	Move to location with better drainage Keep lid on composter Add browns
My compost pile attracts animals or insect pests!	Meat, fish or fatty foods added to composter Pile is too dry	Avoid adding meat/fish/fatty food waste to pile Bury food wastes in pile or cover with soil or browns

More information on Composting