THIS TOOLKIT IS PROVIDED BY RECYCLE, MICHIGAN—AN EDUCATION AND OUTREACH INITIATIVE OF THE MICHIGAN RECYCLING COALITION
COMPOSTING AT HOME
Home Composting Overview
Municipalities or organizations without curbside or drop-off programs for food scraps can promote home composting as an option. The following checklist can help you prepare for promotion using tools in this toolkit and other resources.
CHECKLIST FOR EDUCATORS
Distribute information and include photos of the different home composting options (compost tumbler, bin, or pile)
Provide examples of clear guidelines that residents can use for family and guests, such as:
- Magnet
- Postcard/Flyer
Host or encourage participation in compost training programs like Master Composter to increase knowledge, understanding, and participation in composting in your community.
Distribute information on what can and cannot be composted and why (see below).
Bonus fun:
- At community events, demonstrate the distribution of green materials and brown materials for optimal composting conditions.
- Example: a picture or model display of a cross-section of a compost pile showing layered examples of what should be included and their amounts.
- Consider hosting a "show us your bin or pile " compost photo contest. Residents can take before and after photos of a new compost pile, photos of the pile by itself, or compost pile selfies.
- At community events, demonstrate the distribution of green materials and brown materials for optimal composting conditions.
ACCEPTED MATERIALS
Do Compost (your soil will love it): Your home compost should include the following mixture...
GREENS
Grass Clippings
Egg Shells
Coffee Grounds
Fruit & Vegetable Scraps
Weeds & Garden Debris
BROWNS
Dry Leaves
Cardboard
Small Brush, Twigs
Clean Wood Ash
Sawdust, Woodchips
EXCLUDED MATERIALS
Skip the following items:
| ⌧ Compostable Plastics | Usually designed for industrial-scale composting and not home composting. | Try to find a commercial composter who can accept this type of material. |
| ⌧ Charcoal briquette ash | Contains sulphur and heavy metals that can make soil toxic. | Use small amounts of wood ash sparingly in garden beds. |
| ⌧ Whole branches, logs | It takes a long time for logs and branches to break down. | Use large logs around your compost container as an additional barrier. Branches can be cut down into pieces. |
| ⌧ Sawdust from treated wood | Treated wood can contain toxic chemicals. | Check the source of any wood. If you have any doubt, throw it out. |
| ⌧ Meat or dairy | Avoid adding meat, diary, and oily foods that can attract unwanted pests and may not fully decompose, causing rotten odors. Note that some commercial composting facilities may allow meat or dairy. | Try reducing your food waste by planning meals and using leftovers. |
| ⌧ Pet or human waste | It could create pathogens within your compost pile, causing potential health risks. | Composting toilets are available; check with your local regulations. |