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a <br />Materials for Composting <br />Many organic materials are suitable for composting. Yard <br />wasres, such as leaves, grass clippings, straw, and non- <br />woodyplam trimmings can be composted. The dominant or- <br />ganicwaste inmost backyard compost piles is leaves. Grass <br />clippings can be co.posted; however with proper lawn <br />management, clippings do not need lobe removed from the <br />lawn Isee el I. If clippings are used, it is advisable to mix <br />them with other yard wastes. Otherwise, the grass clippings <br />may compact and restrict air flow. Branches, !ogs, and twigs <br />greater than 1/4 inch in diameter should be put through a <br />shredder/chipper first. Kitchen wastes such as vegetable <br />scraps, coffee grounds, and eggshells may also be added. <br />Sawdust maybe added in moderate amounts if additional ni- <br />trogen is applied. Approximately 1 lbof actual nitrogen (6 <br />cups of ammonium nitrate) is required for 100lbs of drysaw- <br />dust. Wood ashes act as a lime source and if used should only <br />be added in small amounts (no more than 1 cup per bushel). <br />Excessive amounts of wood ashes will result in loss of nitro. <br />gen from the pile. Ordinary black and white newspaper can <br />be composted; however, the nitrogen content is low and will <br />consequently slow down the rate of decomposition. It is rec- <br />ommended that newspaper be recycled through appropriate <br />community paper recycling centers rather than through <br />backyard composting. <br />Examples of other organic materials that can be used to add <br />nutrients to the pile include: blood and bone meal, livestock <br />manure, alfalfa hay, and lake plants. <br />Because they may pose a health hazard, or create a nui- <br />sance, certain organic materials should not be used to make <br />compost. Adding human or pet feces cannot be recom- <br />mended because they may transmit diseases. Meat, bones, <br />grease, whole eggs, and dairy products should not be added <br />because they can attrac, rodents to the site. Most plant dis- <br />ease organisms and weed seeds are destroyed during the <br />composting process when temperatures in the center of the <br />pilereach -.50'-1607. However, in most compost piles, it is <br />impossible to mix efficiently enough to bring all wastes to the <br />center. Consequently, adding large amounts of weeds with <br />seeds or diseased plants may create problems if the compost <br />is used in the garden. <br />Although plants that have been treated with herbicides or <br />Pesticides should be avoided for composting, small amounts <br />of herbicide -treated plants (e.g., grass clippings) may be <br />mixed in the pile as long as you are careful to allow thorough <br />decomposition. Clippings from lawns recently treated with <br />herbicides should be left on the lawn to decompose (see sec- <br />tion on 'Alternatives to Composting Grass Clippings'). Most <br />agrichem ica Is, both pesticides and herbicides, are degraded <br />at varying rates. A list of herbicides commonly used on the <br />home lawn and theirpersistence in soil is provided in Table I <br />(page 5). Even if some treated grass clippings are used, the <br />degradation of these chemicals in a properly maintained <br />compost pile should be at least as fast as that in the .toil. <br />Composting Structures <br />To save space, hasten decomposition, and keep the yard <br />looking neat, it is recommended that the compost pile be <br />contained in some sort of structure. Composting structures <br />can consist of a variety of materials and can be as simple or <br />complex as desired. There are many options available that <br />can be tailored to individual needs. Listed below are a few <br />suggestions for containing the compost. <br />Use of plastic garbage bags is perhaps the simplest way to <br />make compost. The bags are easy to handle, and require <br />minimal maintenance To make compost using this method, <br />'"0 gallon plastic bags should be alternately filled with <br />Plant wastes, fertilizer, and lime. About one tablespoon of a <br />garden fertilizer with a high nitrogen content should be used <br />per bag. Lime (one cup per bag) helps counteract 6e extra <br />acidity caused by anaerobic composting. After filling, add <br />about a quart of water. Close tightly. Set aside for six months <br />to a year. Bags can be set in a basement or heated garage for <br />better decomposition during winter months. Using garbage <br />bags requires no turning or additional water after closing. <br />The main advantage of composting in garbage bags is that ft <br />requires little maintenance; however, because oxygen is <br />limited, the process is slow. <br />A barrel ordrum compostergenerates compost in a relatively <br />short period of time and provides an easy rnechanism for <br />turning (Figure 1). This method requires a barrel of at least 55 <br />gallons with a secure lid. Be sure that the barrel was not used <br />to store toxic chemicals. Paint barrels are a good choice, as <br />0 <br />v <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />D <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />i <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />D <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />Figure 1 <br />