The Natural Way to Enrich Soil
and Reduce Wastes

By Robert Moreau and Jennifer B. Armand
Photos by David Humphreys

LONG BEFORE THE MODERN AGE OF ENVIRONMENTALISM, THE SOLID WASTE disposal crisis, and the curbside recycling bin, there existed the backyard compost pile - a convenient way to turn yard wastes into organic nutrients for next year's flower or vegetable garden. Today, composting also plays an important role in solid waste management, reducing the amount of bulky yard wastes and food scraps that end up in our solid waste landfills for disposal.

"Yard wastes, the primary component of compost, account for nearly 20 percent of all garbage generated in the United States each year"

Composting can be described as the collection and degradation of green wastes such as yard trimmings, leaves, small tree limbs, discarded vegetables, and a limited number of other food wastes that form a usable alternative to fertilizer and a great additive to common topsoil.

Generally, compost piles are enclosed in a far corner of the backyard, where they are allowed to "rot" away for three or four months until they produce the dark, crumbly, earth-smelling material that can be a wonderful enrichment for crops and gardens.

The history of composting has progressed from individual compost piles to huge commercial enterprises that cover several acres of land. As the municipal solid waste stream has increased sharply during the past 30 years (over 122 percent from 1960 to 1990), composting has grown from a backyard hobby to a big waste-reduction business.

The foundation and support for today's composting rests in the fact that yard wastes, the primary component of compost, account for nearly 20 percent of all garbage generated in the United States each year, and in peak summer months that amount can double.

Foods such as meats, dairy products, fats, oil, and grease should not be composted. Applicable ingredients of a backyard compost pile, however, include the following:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Yard wastes, such as leaves, grass, prunings, weeds, and remains of garden plants
• Small tree limbs and tree bark
• Household wastes such as vacuum cleaner lint, wool and cotton rags, sawdust, shredded newspaper, and fireplace ashes

Since these materials are relatively clean and biodegradable, it is obvious that disposal of them in landfills only wastes space and prevents them from being used in a way beneficial to the environment.

Among the various compost materials are (above) grass clippings, leaves, sticks, and pecans.

"Good compost," when properly applied, can be used to enrich crops and gardens, enhance soil texture, increase the ability of soil to absorb air and water suppress weed growth, decrease erosion, and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers. The first thing needed to produce compost in a backyard environment is a small site on the ground (approximately three feet square), or a compost bin, usually made of wood and chicken wire. If a bin is used, air flow needs to be maximized, and wire is a suitable material.

When preparing the compost materials, keep in mind that a mixture of green (grass clippings) and brown (leaves and small tree limbs), in the ratio of 2 to 1, should be maintained. Two parts of grass clippings to one part of brown leaf-and-wood waste is the basis for most compost operations. The first layer at the bottom of the compost pile should be small cutup limbs and other brush, which allow for proper air circulation.

Essential to the composting process are proper aeration and moisture. Aeration may be attained by "turning" the pile with a pitchfork or shovel just enough to expose previously hidden material to the air. Moisture, if not obtained naturally by rain every few days, should be added as needed. The compost pile should be moist at all times and should begin to reach temperatures of 140 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit after five days.

Other compost materials include (above) lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots, and coffee grounds.

The more frequently you turn and water the compost pile, the faster and more effectively it decomposes into usable compost material. After three or four months, when the compost appears ready, it should be "screened" or "silted" so that only the finest particles are used for gardening or crops. This screening process is recommended only to yield the finest product and is not at all a necessity. As available landfill space continues to decline, and as the costs associated with landfill construction and disposal continue to rise, composting is becoming a viable option for states and local governments looking to reduce the volume of landfill wastes. And the benefit to homeowners and farmers is tremendous! For more information on building your own backyard compost pile, contact the Solid Waste Division of DEQ's Office of Solid and Hazardous Waste at (504) 765-0249.

Composting in 12 Easy Steps

The following steps for creating a backyard compost pile were provided by Dr. Bill Cochran, a Solid Waste Specialist working in association with the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center and the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.

1. Obtain a simple enclosure to hold about one cubic yard of compostables. A simple, inexpensive bin can be constructed from an 11-foot length of welded fence wire, which is 48 inches wide with a 2-inch-by-4-inch mesh. This is available at hardware, building-supply, and farm-and-garden stores. Join the two ends to form a cyclinder. If a larger bin is needed, use five wooden shipping pallets. Lay one down, then stand the other four pallets up to form the four sides. Tie the corners together with a piece of rope, and continue the following 11 steps.

2. Obtain a long-handled pitchfork for handling the compostables and the compost.

3. Get a five-gallon bucket for carrying water and compost materials, or use a water hose and wheelbarrow.

4. Put the compost bin on flat surface convenient to the kitchen and near the garden.

5. Start the compost pile. This may be done any time of the year.

6. Fill the compost bin, and keep it full. Start with shredded leaves, yard trimmings, food scraps (not grease or greasy materials), and wet paper towels, depending on the material available.

7. Add the food scraps to the center of the compost pile. Do not "dump and run." Use your pitchfork. Never leave food scraps showing in the pile.

8. Turn your compost pile one week after starting, at two-week intervals for two months, and then as often as you wish, maybe never. When you squeeze the composting materials in your hand and do not feel moisture, add water to the pile.

9. Make compost this year; use it next year.

10. When the pile no longer needs turning, remove the wire mesh bin. If you do not use the compost immediately, mound up the composted material and cover it with plastic to keep it dry.

11. Reload your bin as additional material becomes available. The material will shrink, but keep the bin full. Stockpile leaves to add to your pile as needed to keep the bin full.

12. Use the finished compost in the garden as a mulch or soil conditioner. To make compost into potting soil, screen it and mix two parts screened compost with one part sand. If you don't have a garden, donate your compost to a church, school, or neighborhood park.