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Home Composting

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This document provides information on home composting, detailing the process, benefits, and methods involved. It covers what materials to compost, different composting methods (slow and fast harvest), types of compost bins, troubleshooting tips, and the keys to good compost, including water, nutrients, aeration, and surface area. The document also suggests ways to use compost, such as mulch, soil conditioner, and potting mix, and lists resources for further information, including books and demonstration sites in New Jersey.

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--- Document: Home Composting Document ---
Home Composting
William T. Hlubik, Middlesex County Agricultural Agent; Jonathan Forsell, Essex County Agricultural Agent (deceased);
Richard Weidman, Middlesex County Program Associate; and Mark Winokur, Former Program Assistant
What is Composting?
Composting is a natural process where organic
materials decompose and are recycled into a dark,
crumbly, earthy smelling soil conditioner known as
“compost”. Compost improves soil structure and
moisture retention, and contributes to healthy plant
growth by providing plant nutrients.
Why Should I Compost?
z Composting can save money!
z Reduces fertilizer and water use
z Avoids garbage collection and landfill fees
z Reduces the need for soil and plant amendments
z Composting helps the environment
z Reduces the volume of garbage going to land-
fills, transfer stations and incinerators
z Composting benefits your soil and plants
z Improves soil structure and texture
z Increases aeration and water holding
z Promotes soil fertility
z Stimulates healthy root development
z Aids in erosion control
z Reduces chemical inputs
z Composting is easy
z Save time bagging grass and leaves
z Quick and fun way to do part for the environment
Compost Ingredients
Do Compost:
3 Vegetable food scraps
3 Grass clippings
3 Leaves
3 Flowers
3 Weeds
3 Sawdust and wood ash
3 Chopped twigs and branches
3 Coffee grounds w/filters
For a comprehensive list of our publications visit www.rce.rutgers.edu
Fact sheet
FS811


2
Don’t compost:
2 Meat scraps
2 Diseased or insect infested plants
2 Weeds with seeds
2 Dog and Cat feces
2 Food with grease or soap residues
Composting Methods
Slow Harvest: Ready in 12-18 Months
Made by adding layers of available yard waste over
several months.
1.
Set compost bin where is will get rain.
2.
Put yard waste in bin as it is generated in your
yard. The material at the bottom and in the center
will compost first.
Fast Harvest: Ready in 5-15 Weeks
Made by mixing equal weights of green and brown
materials at once.
1.
Add green materials such as grass clippings or
vegetable scraps mixed with brown materials
such as leaves (no woody-type materials should
be included).
2.
Add water to pile until it’s as wet as a wrung out
sponge.
3.
Turn pile with a pitch fork or compost aerator tool
twice a week for faster compost production (less
often in wintertime).
Types of Compost Bins
Compost can be made in open piles. However, to help
keep a pile neat and maintain conditions needed for
rapid decomposition, consider simple homemade or
store bought bins. See back page for demonstration
sites in New Jersey.
Homemade Bins:
z Made from wood pallets
z Made from snow fences
Store Bought:
z Compost Tumbler
z Durable Plastic Bin
Troubleshooting
Here is how to solve problems should they occur:
Symptom
Problem
Solution
Pile has a rotten
Not enough
Turn pile
odor
air
Pile has ammonia
Too many
Add brown
odor
greens
material like
leaves/straw
Pile is dry
Not enough
Turn and
water; too
moisten; add
much woody
fresh greens
material
Low pile
Pile is too
Add new
temperature (pile
small
materials
is not composting)
Insufficient
Add water
moisture
Poor aeration
Turn pile
Lack of
Mix in greens
nitrogen
like grass or
food scraps
Cold weather
Insulate pile
with layer of
straw or cover
with tarp
Pests (rats,
Presence of
Remove from
raccoons, insects)
meat or fatty
pile
food scraps


3
Keys to Good Compost
Water: The microorganisms in the compost pile
need water to live. Water pile only as needed, to
maintain compost as moist as a wrung out sponge.
Don’t let your pile dry out completely.
Nutrients: The microorganisms in the pile need
carbon for energy and nitrogen for protein in order to
survive. A good balance can be achieved by mixing
two parts of nitrogen rich green materials such as
grass clippings, with one part of carbon rich brown
materials such as leaves. However, carbon-rich
leaves by themselves will compost.
Aeration: To speed up decomposition, turn the pile
frequently using a pitch fork. This provides the
microorganisms with enough oxygen to thrive so they
can heat up the compost. Placing large branches at
the bottom of the pile will also help add air to the pile.
Minimal turning would be once per month and less
frequently during the year.
Surface area: The more surface area the microor-
ganisms have to work on, the faster materials will
decompose. Consider chopping materials, particu-
larly brush or branches which have a diameter of ¼
inch or more. Pile size is also important. For quicker
decomposition, pile should be at least 3 feet x 3 feet
to hold the heat of microbial activity, but not so large
(larger than 5 feet x 5 feet) that air can’t reach
microbes at the center of the pile.
Use for Compost
Mulch: Spread compost around flower and veg-
etable plantings, trees, shrubs, and on exposed
slopes. This will smother weeds, keep plant roots
moist, and prevent soil erosion.
Soil Conditioner: Mix 1-3 inches of compost into
vegetable and flower beds before planting. This
returns organic matter to the soil in a usable form.
Potting Mix: Make your own mix by using equal
parts of compost and sand or soil. Make sure com-
post is fully decomposed and screened.
Resources
Some books to help you along…
Backyard Composting, Harmonious Technologies,
P.O. Box 1865-100 Ojai, CA 93024
How to Grow More Vegetables, John Jeavons,
Ecology Action, 5798 Ridgewood Rd. Willits, CA
09590
Let it Rot, Stu Campbell, Storey Communications,
Inc., Schoolhouse Rd., RD #1, Box 105, Pownal,
VT 05261
The Rodale Guide to Composting, R.A. Simpson,
Rodale Press, 33 E. Miner St., Emmaus, PA
18098
Worms Eat My Garbage, Mary Appelhof, Flower
Press, 10322 Shaver Rd., Kalamazoo, MI 49002
For additional information on composting or
where to get compost materials, call your
Rutgers Cooperative Extension county of-
fice, found in the telephone directory blue
pages, under "County Government" or your
county recycling office.
Compost Deconstruction Areas
These areas in New Jersey have various types of
compost bins on display. Call ahead for hours and
when tours or workshops are given.
Atlantic County
Atlantic County Utilities Authority Geo Garden
6700 Delilah Rd.,
Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Contact: (609) 646-6600
Burlington County
Burlington County Resource Recovery Geo Garden
Complex, Rt 543,
Border of Florence and Mansfield Township
Contact: (609) 499-5210


Mazza & Sons, Inc. Recycling Facility
3230 Shafto Rd.,
Tinton Falls, NJ
Contact: (732) 922-9292
Middlesex County
Davidson's Mill Pond Park, Riva Avenue,
South Brunswick, NJ
Contact: (732) 745-3443
Monmouth County
Deep Cut Park, Red Hill Rd.,
Middletown, NJ
Contact: (732) 842-4000
Morris County
Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 53 E. Hanover Ave.,
Morris Township, NJ
Contact: (973) 326-7600
Passaic County
Passaic County Office of Recycling
1310 Rt. 23 N,
Wayne, NJ
Contact: (973) 305-5734
Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement
by Rutgers Cooperative Extension and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms.
Photos Courtesy of Lindsay Halladay
© 2004 by Rutgers Cooperative Research & Extension, NJAES, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
Desktop publishing by Rutgers-Cook College Resource Center
                                          Revised: August 2003
RUTGERS COOPERATIVE RESEARCH & EXTENSION
N.J. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
NEW BRUNSWICK
Distributed in cooperation with U.S. Department of Agriculture in furtherance of the Acts of Congress on May 8 and June 30, 1914.  Rutgers Cooperative Extension works in
agriculture, family and community health sciences, and 4-H youth development.  Dr. Karyn Malinowski, Director of Extension.  Rutgers Cooperative Research & Extension provides
information and educational services to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family
status.  (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)  Rutgers Cooperative Research & Extension is an Equal Opportunity Program Provider and Employer.