What is compost?
Compost is a dark, earthy material, which results from the natural decomposition of organic matter.
Why backyard compost?
To produce an excellent, free, soil conditioner which will improve your soil and the plants growing in it. Compost also reduces waste by composting kitchen and yard waste. By composting you can reduce your household's garbage by one-third to one-half.
Where do I get a backyard composter?
The City of Vaughan sells composters at a reduced rate!
There are 3 options to get a composter.
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Backyard composters are available at the City of Vaughan Public Works Department located in the Joint Operations 2800 Rutherford Rd. in Maple, on the north side of Rutherford Rd., between Jane St. and Keele St. Please access the driveway from Melville Ave. Hours of Operation are between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
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Backyard composters are available at City's annual Envionmental Day Events that are held throughout the year. Watch advertisements for the next sale located in your area.
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Backyard composters may also be purchased at hardware-type stores. Prices may vary.
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| Tips and tricks for backyard compost:
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Avoid attracting animals and flies, use a container with a tight fitting lid.
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When adding food waste, either dig it into the existing compost immediately, or cover it well with soil or a layer of leaves.
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Do not add meat scraps or fat.
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Line the bottom with heavy-duty wire.
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Place composter an inch or two into the ground.
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Will it smell?
A compost pile that is working well should not have an unpleasant odour. If it does, it may be that the materials are too wet or compacted. Turn the pile to let it dry out, or add dry materials such as leaves.
How long will it take to compost?
Anywhere from two months to two years. If you follow the tips outlined here, you may have finished compost within a couple of months. If you opt for the no fuss method of composting, it will take longer to have finished compost.
Can I compost in the winter?
Yes. Continue to add materials throughout the winter. The decomposition process will slow down, but the pile will become active again in the spring.
Method of backyard composting: |
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Place your container in a level spot on the earth where there is good water drainage and significant sun exposure.
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Line the bottom of the composter with heavy-duty wire (option) and place composter an inch or two into the ground.
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| Step 3: |
Add organic materials. Add both nitrogen-rich green materials, and carbon-rich brown materials. For example, when you add kitchen scraps or grass, also add some dry leaves. When you rake your leaves in the fall, save several bags to add gradually to your pile during the rest of the year. Chop or shred materials into small pieces to make the composting process go faster.
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Keep the pile moist but not dripping wet. Use a cover to keep the pile from becoming too wet from rainfall. If it gets too dry, water it with a watering can or hose.
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Provide air to the pile by turning it with a pitchfork or shovel, by using an aerating tool, or by placing an air stack in the center of the pile. |
What can be backyard composted?
TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS, BREAK ORGANIC MATTER INTO SMALL PIECES.
Apples, Artichoke leaves, Asparagus bottoms, Bananas and Peels, Beans, Beet tops, Berries, Blood meal, Bone meal, Bread, Broccoli stalks, Brussels sprouts, Buckwheat hulls, Cabbage stalks and outer leaves, Carrot tops and scrapings, Celery tops, Citrus rinds, Coffee grounds and filters, Corn cobs (preferably chopped), Corn Stalks, Cotton rags, Cucumber, Dryer lint, Eggshells, Feathers, Felt waste, Flowers, Garden wastes, Grapes, Grape plant wastes, Grapefruit, Grass, Hair, Hay, Hops (spent), Leaf mold, Leaves, Lettuce, Lemon, Melon, Onion, Oats, Peanut hulls, Pears, Peat moss, Pineapple, Pine needles, Potato, Pumpkin, Sawdust, Seaweed, Soil, Straw, String, Squash, Tea leaves and bags, Tomato, Vacuum bags, Weeds, Wood ash, Wool rags, Turnip, Zucchini.
What shouldn't be backyard composted?
Butter, bones, cheese, fish (& scraps), lard, mayonnaise, meat (& scraps), milk, peanut butter, poultry (& scraps), salad dressing, sour cream, vegetable oil, yogurt.
Tips on composting grass:
It is encouraged that you leave the grass clippings on your lawn to return nutrients to the soil (refer to grasscycling). If you wish to compost grass however, do not add too many grass clippings to your compost at one time. They tend to mat and become smelly. It is suggested that you; |
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| Add them in thin layers.
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Allow them to dry in the sun before adding them.
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Mix them with dry materials such as leaves. |
Tips on composting leaves:
If you have a lot of trees, you may have difficulty fitting all your fall leaves into your compost bin. You can however; |
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Shred the leaves first to reduce their volume.
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Build/purchase an additional bin for yard wastes only.
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Compost leaves in a pile in an out of the way corner of your yard where there is some protection from the wind.
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Dig some leaves into the garden to ready the soil for spring planting.
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Use some leaves as mulch around plants for weed control.
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Save some leaves in plastic bags for the spring.
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Using finished compost:
When compost is ready to use, it should be dark and crumbly, with most of the original identity of the materials lost. You can screen the finished compost to remove coarse or incompletely decomposed materials such as shells, corncobs or twigs. Return these to the compost pile.
Applications for finished compost:
Dig into the earth before planting flowers and vegetables. Use it as mulch to topdress around plants and trees to help retain moisture, smother weeds and prevent soil compaction. Screen and use it on your lawn or as part of a seed starting mix. |
