Backyard Composting

Composting is a simple, inexpensive way to enhance your garden, reduce waste and benefit the environment. The decay of organic material results in nutrient-rich compost that can be used to fertilize and condition soil.

Read through the sections below to learn more about backyard composting.

How to set up your composter

Place bin on a level, well-drained surface with partial sun
Place in a location that is easy to access
Create a 6-10 cm base layer using straw, leaves, or woody material to promote air circulation

What goes in your backyard composter?

Your composter needs alternating and equal parts “brown” and “green” material to create an optimal environment for decomposition. To help maintain this ratio keep a bin of “brown” material next to your composter, so you can easily add a layer each time you add “green” material.

Brown	Green
Twigs and small brush Small pieces of cardboard Paper towels and napkins Shredded paper Wood chips Dried Leaves and grass	Fruit and vegetable scraps Coffee grounds Tea leaves Crushed eggshells Grass clippings Plant trimmings

To minimize odours, avoid attracting pests and contaminating your compost, do not include materials such as: meat, fish, bones, dairy products, oils and dog or cat waste.

How to maintain your composter

Mixing the contents of your composter aerates the material and promotes the activity of micro-organisms, increasing the compost temperature. This speeds up the time it takes to have usable compost.

How to use a thermometer

Place a thermometer in the middle of your compost pile
A freshly built or turned pile should rise in temperature between 120F - 170F, then drop in temperature
Once the pile cools below 110F it will need to be mixed to re-introduce oxygen (approximately every 7 days)

The material in your composter should remain moist; if you mix your compost and it is dry add a small amount of water.

How to know when your compost is ready to use

The time it takes to create compost can vary greatly, from two months to two years! The length of time is dependent on the size and type of material added, environmental conditions, and how often contents are turned.

Below are identifiers of ready to use compost:

Original ingredients should be unidentifiable
Earthy smell
Dark in colour
Crumble easily
No longer heat up, even after mixing

Using your compost

Once you identify that your compost is ready to use, lift the door at the bottom of your composter and use a shovel to remove the bottom layers of your compost. Here are a few ways to use it:

Feed your lawn - rake a layer of compost onto your lawn, about 5mm thick to provide nutrients
Use it in your garden - spread finished compost onto your garden beds to retain moisture, add nutrients and suppress weeds
Make potting soil – mix equal parts compost, soil and vermiculite
Share with others – have a small garden, ask others if they would like to enhance their garden

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Cause	Solution
Bad smell	Not enough air; too wet	Mix contents; add dry material
Not heating up	Not enough material in bin; too shady	Add more material; mix contents, move bin to a partly sunny location
Attracts flies or other pests	Bin contains unacceptable material; food is exposed; not enough brown material	Alter materials added; cover food with brown material
Not composting	Too dry	Moisten until slightly damp
Too wet	Poor drainage, too much green material	Turn contents and add brown material

Purchase a backyard composter

The Township sells the FreeGarden, an 80-gallon, durable and lightweight composter. The subsidized cost to Township residents is $25. To contain your kitchen scraps you can purchase a kitchen catcher for $5 and to mix your compost you can purchase a Wing Digger aerator for $15. The wings of the tool fold in as it is pushed into the compost and fold out when it is pulled up. This brings older material from the bottom of the composter to the top, and mixes it with new additions, it also loosens the compost to introduce oxygen.

These products are available for purchase in person at the Township’s Civic Facility Customer Service (20338 - 65 Avenue) or over the phone by calling Township customer service (604-534-3211). Free home delivery is available upon request.