Office of Policy and Sustainable Practices312 Rosa L. Parks Ave.

Nashville, TN 37243Phone: 615-532-5944

Division of Solid Waste Management

Materials Management Programs312 Rosa L. Parks Ave.

Nashville, TN 37243Phone: 615-741-4907

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Composting at Home

What can you do?

Facts and Benefits ofComposting

Enriches soil, helping retain moisture andsuppress plant diseases and pests.

Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, whichhelps decrease fertilizer runoff into bodies ofwater.

Encourages the production of beneficial bacteriaand fungi that break down organic matter tocreate humus, a rich nutrient-filled material.

Reduces methane emissions from landfills andlowers your carbon footprint.

Conserves energy by eliminating the need forwaste hauling and management.

Composting is the accelerated and controlledbreakdown of organic material such as food andyard waste that creates a beneficial soilamendment. Food scraps and yard trimmings make up about29% of what we throw away. This presentssignificant opportunity to reduce landfill waste! Composting:

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Learn to make compost for healthysoil and to reduce landfill waste.Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

Authorization No. 0000000. No of copies, 1,000. This public document was promulgated at a cost of __ per Copy. Feb 2019.

Select a location - The location should be dry, moderatelysunny, and conveniently located.Construct or purchase a bin - Bins are available in storesor online, or you can build one using supplies like pallets, t-posts and chicken wire, or cement blocks.Add materials - Materials should be added in a 3:1 ratio byvolume of browns to greens. For example, for one bucketof fruit and veggie scraps you should add three buckets ofleaves and wood shavings.Stir occasionally - Use a pitchfork or shovel to stirmaterials once a week or twice a month. Stirring helps addoxygen to your compost pile! Add water as necessary - Add water only when yourcompost  looks dry. Compost should have about the samemoisture as a sponge that has been wrung out.Wait until most bacterial activity diminishes - Steamwill be present while bacterial activity is occurring. Allsteam will diminish and compost will no longer haveidentifiable food items. Screen compost (optional) - Use a metal screen to sortlarge, un-finished items out of the compost. The largepieces can be used to inoculate a new pile.Age your compost (optional, but ideal) - Allow yourcompost pile to sit for several weeks to ensure all bacterialactivity has ended. Do not add new material during thistime. Finished compost will smell earthy, not sour, and willlook like a dark, crumbly soil.

3 parts BROWN + 1 part GREEN +

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All composting requires four key ingredients to besuccessful:  BROWNS, GREENS, WATER, and AIR

BROWNSThis includes carbon rich materials such as dead leaves,branches and twigs, wood shavings, paper towels, newspaper,and uncoated paper products

GREENSThis includes nitrogen rich materials such as fresh grass clippings,fruit and vegetable waste, flowers, hair and fur, and coffeegrounds.

WATERComposting organisms need a moist environment. Organismsincluding earth worms, roly polys, good bacteria, and beneficialfungi need water to live. If the compost is too wet or too dry,these organisms will die.

AIRIt is important for the composting organisms to also haveoxygen. By helping air circulate through the pile by turning it orstirring it, the compost pile remains aerobic. This means thatoxygen is present. When oxygen isn't present, foul odors canoccur. DO NOT ADD: dairy, meat, fats, bones, oils, pet waste,seafood scraps, plastic, stickers from fruits and vegetables,metals, glass, treated or painted wood

Mulching material - Use compost to mulcharound trees, shrubs, and landscaping. It willhelp provide the soil with vital nutrients andallow the ground below to retain more moisture.Soil amendment - Mix compost into the soil atplanting time. This will provide nutrients toplants at the root level.Compost tea - Compost tea refers to thenutrient rich liquid matter released by compost.Make your own by adding a shovel full offinished compost to a 5 gallon bucket full ofwater. Let the mixture steep for 12-24 hours,and then simply pour the liquid on the area orplants you wish to use it on.Erosion control - Compost can be used in easilyflooded and erosion prone areas to help retainmoisture and eliminate runoff. Top-dressing lawn areas - Spread anywherefrom 1 - 3 inches of compost over a lawn area.The compost will eventually settle into the soilleaving it much healthier and able to retain morewater. Adding compost to lawns also reducesthe need for fertilizers which can be harmful ifthey make their way to bodies of water.

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Four Key Ingredients Basic Instructions Compost Uses