Source Reduction

Presentation 5: The Composting Toolkit Funded by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management Recycling Grants Program Developed by the Indiana Rural Community Assistance Program - RCAP

“Source Reduction” In The Realm Of Composting Source reduction programs are those activities which allow yard waste to remain at its generation site without entering the waste stream. Source reduction programs are those activities which allow yard waste to remain at its generation site without entering the waste stream. Examples: Examples: Leaving grass clippings lie Leaving grass clippings lie Backyard composting Backyard composting “Home made” mulch and brush piles “Home made” mulch and brush piles

Documented Benefits The United States Composting Council looked into the effectiveness of backyard composting education programs across the county. The United States Composting Council looked into the effectiveness of backyard composting education programs across the county. They found: They found: Communities that invested in home composting education realized measurable savings in the costs of waste disposal Communities that invested in home composting education realized measurable savings in the costs of waste disposal For an investment on average of $12/ton directly tied to backyard composting education communities saved an average of $56/ton in disposal costs for a net average savings of $44/ton. For an investment on average of $12/ton directly tied to backyard composting education communities saved an average of $56/ton in disposal costs for a net average savings of $44/ton.

Leave It A Lawn! It has many names... It has many names... Grasscycling Grasscycling Mulching Mower Mulching Mower Don’t Bag It Don’t Bag It Leave It Lay Leave It Lay They all come down to one simple concept: leave your grass clippings on your lawn. They all come down to one simple concept: leave your grass clippings on your lawn.

Leave It A Lawn! Just leave grass clippings on the lawn instead of collecting them. Just leave grass clippings on the lawn instead of collecting them. As the grass clippings decompose they release nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium back into the soil, so less fertilizer is needed. As the grass clippings decompose they release nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium back into the soil, so less fertilizer is needed. The lawn will also need less water because the grass clippings tend to reduce evaporation. The lawn will also need less water because the grass clippings tend to reduce evaporation.

Leave It A Lawn! No Bags No Bags Less Water Less Water Less Fertilizer Less Fertilizer Saves Money Saves Money

Backyard Composting Low tech. Low tech. Lowest energy costs because the compost is treated at the location where it was “created”. Lowest energy costs because the compost is treated at the location where it was “created”. Many styles of bins. The key, however, is not the bin but maintaining optimal conditions. Many styles of bins. The key, however, is not the bin but maintaining optimal conditions. Backyard composting is considered SOURCE REDUCTION by the EPA hierarchy of waste management. Backyard composting is considered SOURCE REDUCTION by the EPA hierarchy of waste management.

Backyard Composting Home composting takes the waste disposal problem and stops it at its source. It reduces the amount of waste that municipalities need to collect as part of their municipal composting programs. By avoiding collection and processing costs, home composting represents the lowest cost management alternative. Home composting takes the waste disposal problem and stops it at its source. It reduces the amount of waste that municipalities need to collect as part of their municipal composting programs. By avoiding collection and processing costs, home composting represents the lowest cost management alternative.

Backyard Composter To say there is a variety of shapes and types of backyard composters would be a huge understatement. To say there is a variety of shapes and types of backyard composters would be a huge understatement. They all, however, serve a similar purpose: facilitate the composting process while keeping the materials that are composting within a tidy space. They all, however, serve a similar purpose: facilitate the composting process while keeping the materials that are composting within a tidy space. The following slides are a sampling of the many varieties of home composter. The following slides are a sampling of the many varieties of home composter.

Tumbler Composters

Multi-chamber Bins

Wire or Enclosure Composter

Cinder Block Bins

Pallet Composters

Prefabricated Bins (Examples, Not Endorsements)

And More Prefabricated Bins (And In No Particular Order)

And A Few Other... (You’re getting the idea, right?)

Backyard Composters Regardless of the type of composter you choose, they should have a few key elements: Regardless of the type of composter you choose, they should have a few key elements: Be sure the bin you select is well-ventilated. Good air circulation is key to successful composting. Be sure the bin you select is well-ventilated. Good air circulation is key to successful composting. The ideally sized structure should be approximately 3 feet x 3 feet x 3 feet. The ideally sized structure should be approximately 3 feet x 3 feet x 3 feet. The pitfall of smaller is it may not heat properly The pitfall of smaller is it may not heat properly The pitfall of larger is you may not have enough air circulation The pitfall of larger is you may not have enough air circulation Placement is as important as the bin. Put it somewhere in the yard where it will get a blend of direct sunlight and shade time. Placement is as important as the bin. Put it somewhere in the yard where it will get a blend of direct sunlight and shade time. Remember that maintaining ideal composting conditions (moisture, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, proper turning/aeration) is every bit (okay, its more important) than the bin itself. Remember that maintaining ideal composting conditions (moisture, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, proper turning/aeration) is every bit (okay, its more important) than the bin itself.

Ideal Composting Conditions Particle size  smaller better Particle size  smaller better Moisture  40-60% Moisture  40-60% Temp.  degrees F Temp.  degrees F Oxygen  >5% Oxygen  >5% Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio:  30:1 Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio:  30:1 Also Called Brown/Green or C/N Ratio Also Called Brown/Green or C/N Ratio

Compost Trouble Shooting Symptom: has bad odor  Problem: not enough air  Solution: turn pile daily until odor is gone Symptom: has bad odor  Problem: not enough air  Solution: turn pile daily until odor is gone Symptom: center of pile is dry  Problem: not enough water  Solution: moisten material while turning pile Symptom: center of pile is dry  Problem: not enough water  Solution: moisten material while turning pile Symptom: compost is damp and warm  Problem: pile too small  Solution: collect more material and mix the pile in the middle but nowhere else Symptom: compost is damp and warm  Problem: pile too small  Solution: collect more material and mix the pile in the middle but nowhere else Symptom: the pile will not heat up  Problem: lack of nitrogen  Solution: mix in a nitrogen source such as grass clippings, fresh manure, or fertilizer Symptom: the pile will not heat up  Problem: lack of nitrogen  Solution: mix in a nitrogen source such as grass clippings, fresh manure, or fertilizer

Other Home “Source Reduction” “Home made” mulch “Home made” mulch There are a number of small chippers and shredders on the market that allow people to make their own mulch out of trimmings from their yard. There are a number of small chippers and shredders on the market that allow people to make their own mulch out of trimmings from their yard. In some gardening situations grass clippings or leaf litter can also be used as mulches. In some gardening situations grass clippings or leaf litter can also be used as mulches. “Home made” brush piles “Home made” brush piles These can be attractive and provide animal habitat. Make sure they are not a violation of local neighborhood covenants or ordinance. These can be attractive and provide animal habitat. Make sure they are not a violation of local neighborhood covenants or ordinance.

Worm Composting Can be done indoors or outdoors Can be done indoors or outdoors Uses the macro-organism, red worms, verses the micro-organisms used in other forms of composting Uses the macro-organism, red worms, verses the micro-organisms used in other forms of composting Most effective with vegetable matter food wastes Most effective with vegetable matter food wastes Can be very small or very large scale Can be very small or very large scale

Worm Composters

QUESTIONS?

Thank You! Additional Questions, Comments, or You Think You Have A Potential Pilot Community Additional Questions, Comments, or You Think You Have A Potential Pilot Community Please Feel Free to Contact Me: Please Feel Free to Contact Me: Mark W. Davis Technical Assistance Provider Rural Community Assistance Program Office: Wireless: (812)