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Composting Tips

THE AVERAGE PERSON GENERATES ALMOST FIVE-HUNDRED POUNDS OF DECOMPOSABLE WASTE EVERY YEAR.  LEARN HOW TO PUT IT TO GOOD USE ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

ORGANIC WASTE DOESN’T NEED TO END UP IN A LANDFILL. IN FACT, THROWING IT OUT IS A WASTE!  COMPOST IT INSTEAD AND YOU’LL BE REWARDED WITH NUTRIENT-RICH SOIL AND HEALTHY PLANTS.

RICHARD STEHOUWER, PROFESSOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL SOIL SCIENCE AT PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, SAYS THE KEY TO BACKYARD COMPOSTING IS ADDING THE CORRECT MIX OF MATERIALS. 

STEHOUWER: THE CRITICAL THING IS TO HAVE A MIX OF WHAT WE CALL GREENS AND BROWNS, BROWNS BEING ANYTHING THAT HAS A VERY HIGH CARBON CONTENT THAT IS USUALLY FAIRLY DRY.  GREENS WOULD BE THINGS LIKE FRESH GRASS CLIPPINGS.

HE SUGGESTS ADDING THREE PARTS BROWNS TO ONE PART GREENS. THE MICROBES THAT DECOMPOSE THIS MATERIAL NEED WATER AND AIR, TOO, SO KEEP THE PILE MOIST AND TURN IT REGULARLY.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

To learn more, visit the EPA site.