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

Why compost? Composting saves money For your town: less trash pickup = lower trucking/hauling, trash disposal costs (save money for roads, sidewalks, parks, snow removal)

Why compost? Composting saves money For your yard and garden: buy less synthetic chemical fertilizers, soil; water less often

Why compost? Composting saves money For your apartment building: less costly trash, overflowing stinky dumpster, noisy pickups

Composting keeps food waste out of landfills Composting saves space in landfills Photo of Northampton landfill, June 2008

Composting helps slow Climate Change Climate Change (or Global Warming) is caused by greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Greenhouse Gases: Carbon Dioxide Methane Nitrous Oxide

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!! The Climate Change Connection Methane pipe at a landfill

Compost bins made from reused pallets 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

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

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.

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

The Yes and No of home composting: YES; Green/Nitrogen-rich: Veggies, fruit, & peels Bread, rice, pasta, grains Coffee grounds, paper coffee filters, tea bags Eggshells Grass clippings, yard waste NO; will smell and attract animals: Meat, fish, bones Cheese, dairy Fat, grease, oils, peanut butter Cooked foods with lots of sauces/ butter Also: Diseased or insect-ridden plants Weeds which spread by roots and runners Weeds 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)

Setting up your bin Put 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 Waste Lots and lots of fall leaves/ brown materials Finished compost or garden soil (2-3 shovel-fulls) Shovel or pitchfork Hose or bucket(s) of water (no water in winter)