Compost

Composting is breaking down organic waste with helpful decomposition microbes. Organic waste can be anything that is made from animals, plants, fungi, or bacteria. It includes food waste, soiled paper, yard trimmings, agricultural residues, manure, and even biosolids. The organic waste often isn't pretty to start with - but finished compost is just brown and crumbly like soil, with a pleasant, earthy smell.

Every community has organic waste, and it can be a challenge to handle. The benefits of composting it are: 

• Make a lot less garbage - by not throwing organic waste in with the trash

• Avoid making methane pollution at the landfill (where things rot "anaerobically" due to lack of oxygen)

• Build healthy soil with lots of plant nutrients and a good, loose texture that absorbs more water

 

The 5-Step Recipe to Compost Right

The key to good compost is creating the right conditions for the microbes to thrive. The basic recipe stays the same whether the compost system is big or small.

Nitrogen

Aka 'green material,' this includes food waste, green plant trimmings, manure, and biosolids. They should make up 40-50% of the compost. Without these, breakdown will be slow.

Carbon

Aka 'brown material,' this includes soiled paper, brown plant trimmings, wood waste, and agricultural residue. They should make up the other 50-60%. They stabilize nitrogen to prevent bad smells and also keep more air spaces open.

Oxygen

The good microbes breathe oxygen, so we stir or use aeration pipes to keep fresh air in the pile. This helps "aerobic" microbes and thwarts "anaearobic" microbes, who make bad smells and methane.

Water

The microbes need water to work. Adding water to keep compost damp keeps it cooking.

Microbes

Microbes are the star of the show. Some will already be there, but you can add extra including a little soil or finished compost into the mix.

→ Quick tip: Stirring and watering regularly are extra important because they are also the best way to deter mice from taking shelter in the compost.

 

Home Compost Methods

Composting onsite (at home or at work) is the most direct way to manage our organic waste. It is also great for gardeners to fertilize their soil. There are many different methods for composting at home.

To find out what style will work best for you, take the COMPOST STYLE QUIZ!

Outdoors:

• Break it down in a compost bin

• Bury it in a trench compost

• Spread leaves or grass as mulch 

• Plant squash over a compost heap

• Leave clippings on the lawn when you mow
  

Indoors:

• Vermicompost with earthworms

• Use an electric countertop appliance to dehydrate food waste

• Use bokashi buckets to ferment food waste 

• For the bold, make an indoor compost tub

 

More Resources:

• What compost style is right for you? Take the COMPOST STYLE QUIZ!

• Composting in 60 Seconds video series:
• Backyard Composting in 60 Seconds
• Trench Composting in 60 Seconds
• Vermicompost in 60 Seconds
• Bokashi Composting in 60 Seconds
• Choosing a Compost Bin in 60 Seconds
• Using Finished Compost in 60 Seconds
• Winter Composting in 60 Seconds

• Home Composting on the Prairies (video)

• Understanding Countertop Composters (Report - PDF) (Infographic - PDF)

• The 5-step recipe (PDF)

• Control tips for fruit flies and fungus gnats (Info coming)

• Composting and other Down-to-Earth Solutions (PDF)

• Vermicompost fact sheet (PDF)

• Bokashi compost fact sheet (PDF)

• Blueprints for a 3-stall compost bin (Option 1) (Option 2)

• Dishing the Dirt (Report - PDF) (Poster - PNG)

 

 

Municipal Composting

Many communities have large-scale compost programs such as curbside organics pick-up or drop-off depots. Aerated static piles, windrow composting, and in-vessel compost systems are common methods for composting large volumes of organic waste on the Prairies.

Does your communty compost? Check our Waste Reduction Hub for compost options around SK.

Some communities also promote home composting to their residents. The SWRC encourages communities to use our free, online compost resources wherever they are helpful!

The SWRC also offers additional home compost education programs to municipalities on a fee-for-service basis. Contact us for more information.

 

Other Options

While composting is the most common method for handling organic waste, other options include:

• Turning it into animal feed for livestock.
• Feeding it to insects to produce fish food.
• Using an anaerobic digester to produce biogas. At the end of the process, the remaining material is still composted.
• Dry materials like wood waste can be burned for energy and heat.