Compostables

According to the EPA, food scraps and yard waste together currently make up more than 28 percent of what we throw away, and should be composted instead. Making compost keeps these materials out of landfills where they take up space and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Composting doesn't take a lot of effort, and the resulting compost is great to feed your plants some extra nutrients without needing to buy and add chemical products.

All composting requires three basic ingredients:

  • Browns - This includes materials such as dead leaves, branches, and twigs.

  • Greens - This includes materials such as grass clippings, vegetable waste, fruit scraps, and coffee grounds.

  • Water - Having the right amount of water, greens, and browns is important for compost development.

You can create a compost pile in your backyard, or if space is limited, you can create an indoor compost bin. There are plenty of DIY options to look at online, but click here for the EPA's set up.

Additionally, there are composting bins available commercially. Many of these are drum-style bins, and have a hand crank. This means you can just spin them to rotate your layers and keep the compost process working with minimal effort.

For more information about home composting, check out the EPA's website here.