Basic Composting Tips

The Wyckoff Environmental Commission held a composting workshop in March and share tips on how to compost.

Benefits of Composting

1. Reduces the amount of landfill waste (food makes up 20% landfill waste)
2. Creates nutrient rich compost soil that retains more water, reduces soil erosion and reduces the use of synthetic pesticides
3. Composting helps you and your municipality save money too $$$$

How to Compost

• You need a compost bin or you can do it right on the ground
• You need a mix of:
  • green materials (e.g., fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, coffee or tea grounds/bags without the staples, etc.,) and,
  • brown materials (e.g., leafs, small twigs, wood ashes, etc.)
• There's no magic mix percentage other than slightly more brown than green
• Absolutely no pet waste, meat or fish scraps, dairy, or diseased plants/weeds
• Keep your compost moist but not soaking wet
• Turn your compost periodically (2-3 times/month)
• It takes about 3-4 months to break down, but then you will have black gold to add to your soil!