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Simple Steps for Starting at Home Provided by DHEC’s Office of Solid Waste Reduction & Recycling www.scdhec.gov/dontwastefoodsc Composting is nature’s way Table of to recycle. Contents What type of Composting happens. It’s simply the slow, natural decomposition of composting works organics. best for me? ..............3 Backyard Composting at home is the controlled and faster decomposition of Composting ...............4 organics such as yard trimmings and food waste that you and your Do-It-Yourself Bins ....4 family generate. Microorganisms break down this material into compost Bins to Buy .................5 – a nutrient-rich product that can be used as a soil amendment in yards, gardens, flower beds and potted plants. Open Composting .....5 Backyard Composting Step-By-Step...............6 Why compost at home? What goes in your backyard compost? ...7 • It’s good for you and the environment. Temperature Check ..........................8 The product you make is valuable. It can improve the soil, prevent Common Problems erosion, reduce the use of fertilizer and water – saving natural & Simple Solutions ....8 resources and money – as well as decrease the amount of waste you When is my compost generate. ready to use? ..............9 Other Methods • It involves little effort, equipment, expense and of Composting expertise. & Diversion .............10 You can reduce food This guide addresses several home composting options and will help waste at home. .......12 you decide which one is best for you. Backyard composting is the Resources & Contact most common choice and the focus of this publication. Information ............12 Let’s get started. Consider the following questions when planning to compost at home. Use the flow chart on the following page to help you decide which method to use. 1. How much space do you have at home? 2. What material will you be composting? 3. How much time and effort can you give to this project? 2 Composting: Recycling Naturally – Simple Steps for Starting at Home What type of composting works best for me? START HERE Can you compost at home? Commercial Where? Yes No Hauler Page 11 Outside Inside How do you feel Ick! about worms? Bokashi Page 11 What will Food waste Worm Bin you compost? only Page 10 Food waste Got leaves? & yard mix (Or paper or straw?) Green Cone Page 10 Yes No Just leaves Want super simple? Piles & Heaps Yes, K.I.S.S.! Page 5 Pile or Bin Not that simple Page 5 Sheet Mulching/ Compost IN Lasagna Gardening Sure No Page 5 Tumbler or the garden? Can you dig it? Rolling Bin Page 5 No, let’s have a Yes Pits & Trenches “compost area” Page 5 Circular or + fun? What’s your style? Enclosed Bin Worried Fan Favorite! Page 5 about pests? Shabby chic Wooden Yes Very or Pallet Bin* Page 4 Spend $$? Not really YES! Substantial No DIY? Elegant Minimalist Free is good (AKA easy + inexpensive) Cinder Block Brick Bin* Bin* ADAPTED Wire Bin* Page 4 Page 4 FROM *Triple these to make Page 4 gardensthatmatter.com a 3-section system. Composting: Recycling Naturally – Simple Steps for Starting at Home 3 Backyard Composting Options Do-It-Yourself Bins TYPE PROS & CONS SUGGESTIONS & PRECAUTIONS Bricks Pros: Long-lasting, neat appearance, Layer bricks to leave spaces for inexpensive if reusing material, can aeration. add material during process. Cons: Time consuming to build, expensive if using new material, Brick Bin cannot be moved. Cinder Pros: Long-lasting, holes provide Mortar may not be required if Blocks aeration without having to turn stacked evenly. You should need 20 material as often, inexpensive for or less standard cinder blocks for a reused or new material, can add bin 3 feet square. material during process. Cons: Cannot be moved. Wire Pros: Simple to build, inexpensive Cut an opening in the wire towards for reused or new material, can add the bottom to remove finished material during the process. compost. Cons: Temperature may not stay Cinder Block Bin as hot. Wooden Pros: Inexpensive if reusing Untreated wood is preferred. Check or Pallets material. with local stores to see if they will Cons: Will have to be replaced donate used pallets. Using chicken eventually due to decomposition of wire in combination with the wood the wood. will help hold materials in the bin. Three Pros: Reduces decomposition time Fill the first bin with material. When Sections from months to weeks, provides it’s full, turn the contents into the storage for finished compost, can second bin. Begin filling the first bin produce higher volume of material again while continuing the process Wire Bin at varied intervals, can add material of moving the material from the during process. second to the third bin. When the Cons: Time consuming to build, material in the third bin is ready, more manual labor to turn material. remove the finished compost and begin the process again. DIY Wire Bin SHOPPING LIST • 4-ft. metal poles (4) • zip ties (12+) • chicken wire (12+ ft.) • metal clips (3+) Wooden Bin STEP 1: STEP 2: STEP 3: Use a hammer to drive Use about 12 feet of chicken Leave one end detached so metal posts or rebar into wire to wrap around the the bin can be opened to turn the ground. Space the posts outside of the posts. Attach the pile. Use metal clips to about 3 feet apart. wire to posts with zip ties. close the open end. Three-Section Bin 4 Composting: Recycling Naturally – Simple Steps for Starting at Home
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