Since 1997, HomeTips has guided millions of homeowners with original, expert advice for DIY home improvement and repair. Founder Don Vandervort, a nationally recognized authority, has written more than 30 books and countless magazine articles, been a host on HGTV, and served as MSN's home improvement expert. MORE
Everything rots, given enough time and air. But to really kick start the process of breaking down organic materials, you need bugs . . . very tiny bugs.
Bacteria make up 80% to 90% of the microorganisms that do the work of breaking down the grass clippings and orange peels in your compost bin. So while it may seem simple enough to just heap the debris on a pile and wait for it to change into soil, a very complex process needs to happen in order for the material to break down.
The best composting process is one that caters to the needs of the microorganisms, which means building and maintaining a bin or pile that encourages their growth. On the way to creating rich humus for your garden, the microorganisms devour the waste on a cellular level and create water, carbon dioxide, and the all-important ingredient—heat. A healthy compost pile will heat up to about 140 degrees in the core as the microorganisms do their work.
The key to good compost is understanding which of the great amounts of material around the home can be composted. Grass clippings, leaves, brush, spent flowers, vegetable plants after harvest, and wood ash all are fair game for the compost pile.
From the kitchen, eggshells, coffee grounds, produce peelings, leftover pasta (without sauce), stale bread, and past-its-prime fruit also work well. Shifting waste to the compost bin instead of the garbage bin can greatly reduce the amount of trash you bag each week.
In total, almost 20% of the materials hauled off to landfills each year could easily have been composted at home. This would not only save on space at the dump but also reduce fuel usage for transporting the refuse, return nutrients to the soil, and reduce the amount of fertilizer you must buy and apply each year (and the environmental impact if the fertilizer is chemical-based).
While some serious composting experts include meat, bones, and fat in their bins, these advanced ingredients could attract critters, bugs, and odors most novice composters would rather not deal with. Many municipalities have ordinances against backyard composting for this very reason, so, before beginning, be sure to check the local laws.
