"Composting 101" Presentation
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Transcript of "Composting 101" Presentation
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Presentation created by Amy Donovan, Program Director
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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
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Composting keeps food waste out of landfills
Composting saves space in landfills
Photo of Northampton landfill, June 2008
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Composting helps slow Climate Change
Climate Change (or Global Warming) is caused by greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.
Greenhouse Gases:Carbon Dioxide
MethaneNitrous Oxide
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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.)
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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)
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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)
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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
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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.
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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/
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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