Composting starts with paying attention to what we’re throwing away. You may decide to start with a low maintenance/low effort method, which is basically identifying a space to toss organic waste and allowing nature to take its course. This method usually breaks down slowly and sometimes takes more than a year to finish composting.

With a little more attention, you can create active or hot composting at home. Composting requires nitrogen (greens), carbon (browns), air and water. These four things work together to feed microorganisms that do the work to increase the speed of decomposition. Follow these five steps to begin composting:

1. Begin collecting your food scraps, any raw fruit, vegetable or herb will do. Also save tea bags, coffee grounds, egg shells and lint from the dryer for composting.
2. Choose a place in the yard or a bin to make your compost. (There are many compost bins for purchase now; other options include DIY bins that can be constructed in a weekend project or drilling holes in an old trash can).
3. Layer green waste, such as raw veggies, fruit, coffee, and grass trimmings, with brown materials. Browns are high in carbon and include fallen leaves, wood chips, shredded newspaper and woody garden trimmings. Healthy compost needs a higher brown to green ratio. An easy way to achieve this goal is to start with a brown layer at the bottom and end with a brown layer on top.
4. Add enough water to your pile to moisten all materials (Imagine a squeezed-out sponge), Microbes need enough water to move around the natural waste; however too much water will drown them.
5. Wait and aerate your pile. Periodically turning your compost allows water and air to reach the innermost parts of your pile and assist in the decomposition process.

Quick tips:

• Think about your habits and make composting easy for you. For example, you could store food scraps in a plastic bag in the freezer until you get a full bag to reduce your trips to the compost bin.
• Involve others. Get family members and neighbors involved for accountability and to make it fun.
• Consider vermicomposting! Worms are fantastic workers that break down compost faster. This is a great way to get children involved.
• Be patient. Composting takes time.
• Have fun. Celebrate the great way you’re helping the planet.

Cities and counties across Georgia have many different ways of collecting and handling compost materials. Some programs are already established, while others are currently in the development stage. Residents should reach out to their local city and/or county government to learn more about the composting programs in the community.

For example, the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government operates a public composting program. This includes a commercial composting facility, a food scraps drop-off program, and a food scraps collection program.

If there are other municipal composting services that you think we should highlight in this toolkit, please email info@drawdownga.org with details.

Yes. There are companies in Georgia that offer paid services to collect and compost organic waste, both from homes and businesses. These companies do not currently operate statewide, but do serve some communities in our state.

Examples include:
CompostNow
Code of Return
Goodr
NewTerra Compost

If there are other private composting services that you think we should highlight in this toolkit, please email info@drawdownga.org with details.

Compost is the result of decomposition of natural waste, however “worm castings” or vermicompost are the by-product of both decomposition and digestion of organic materials by worms.

There are a number of worm bins or worm farm kits that require minimal setup and maintenance for purchase on the web. However, it is very inexpensive to set up your own worm farm using used or recycled materials or two plastic storage bins.

There are tons of compost bins on the market today and then of course, you can build your own. Think about your lifestyle, the time, effort and resources you’re willing to invest in composting. Which of the following categories best fits you:

Continuous or static composters: These enclosed bins allow you to add material at any time. It requires a mix of browns, greens and water. Compost falls to the bottom and may be collected a few times a year. The compost cycle is generally slower in a static bin.

Batch or Tumbler composters: These are great for gardeners who want to get compost faster. The composter requires tumbling or mixing every day or two. With sufficient moisture and turning, compost can be produced in four to eight weeks.

Indoor (or Outdoor) composters: These bins are usually smaller and are used to turn kitchen scraps into compost for houseplants or small gardens. There are small worm bins that fall into this category that create small batches of compost and a worm tea that is a great liquid fertilizer for house and garden plants.

• A Guide to Workplace Composting.
• Information from the Georgia Recycling Coalition about composting in your backyard and in your community.
• Check out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's information on Composting at Home.
• The Natural Resources Defense Council created a helpful Composting 101.
• The MakeSoil map can help you connect with community composting groups in your area.
• A guide to Community Composting Best Management Practices from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
• Learn more about How to Compost at Work.
• A report about if and how bioplastics break down in different types of composting systems from the Composting Consortium.
• The infographic below is a helpful guide to the types of organic waste that you can add to your home compost pile. Download a printer-friendly copy here.