Why and How to Make Your Own Compost

By using organic waste for compost instead of transporting it to landfills, the emissions and financial costs to collect trash and transport it to landfills are reduced. In addition, the life of a landfill is extended. Making your own compost at home means you won’t have to buy chemical fertilizers and will have lower water bills since the soil will retain more water.

How to Make Compost
A compost pile should have equal parts brown material, which includes dead leaves, branches, and twigs, and green material, such as grass clippings, fruit and vegetable waste, and coffee grounds, as well as water. Brown materials provide carbon, and greens provide nitrogen. Water helps the organic material break down.

To create compost, choose a dry, shady area near a hose or other water source. As you collect brown and green materials, add them to the pile. Cut up large pieces if necessary. Moisten any dry materials to help them break down. Mix in green materials and bury fruit and vegetable scraps under 10 inches of compost. Regularly mix the compost, and cover it with a tarp. The compost will be ready to use when the material on the bottom has a dark, rich color.

Recognize the Benefits of Composting
The average family throws away a tremendous amount of organic waste that collectively contributes to environmental damage and has huge financial costs. Composting can be beneficial to both the environment and your wallet. Instead of disposing of organic material in the trash, put it to good use by turning it into nutrient-rich compost.