The secret to backyard composting is all in the recipe! All you need is a 50:50 ratio between “brown” and “green” materials, a little patience and some help from the sun.
“Brown” materials are carbon based. They include dried grass and plants, leaves, sawdust, wood chips, straw, dried bread, shredded newspaper and dryer lint.
“Green” materials are nitrogen based. They include fruit & vegetable peels/cores, food scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells and garden waste.
Compostable Items:
- Vegetable and fruit cuttings, coffee grounds and tea bags
- Egg shells
- Leaves
- Grass
- Other Yard and Garden Waste
Non-Compostable Items:
- Meat
- Bones
- Cooking Oils
- Salad Dressing
- Dairy Products
- Pet Waste
- Please Don’t Bag Your Grass
Save Money! When clippings are left on the lawn or in the garden, nutrients are released into the soil. Grass clippings contain over 50% water. Leaving grass clippings on your lawn can cut your watering costs and save money on fertilizers.
Save Time! Raking and bagging grass clippings adds unnecessary work to your busy schedule.
Remember! Grass and leaves are not garbage. Short grass clippings will settle in your lawn within hours and disappear in one or two days. Correctly managed, grass and leaves become valuable compost, rich in nutrients.