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How To Compost
Oneida and Herkimer County residents have worked hard to make recycling a reality. The Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority urges everyone to compost. Composting organic materials is just as important as glass, plastic, metal and paper recycling. All of these efforts help reduce our reliance on landfills.
Composting can be done easily at home - many residents already have backyard compost piles or units where they compost yard waste and some household waste. The Authority also operates a green waste composting facility that produces finished compost on a very large scale.
A basic understanding of the composting process can produce a high-quality, usable product; all it takes are a few simple materials and a little time.
Compostable Waste
- Waste material can be either yard waste and/or certain household waste.
- An ideal size for the pile is 3' x 3' x 3'.
- Large pieces of waste material should be broken up by hand or shredded.
- Check COMPOST INGREDIENTS list before adding waste materials.
Oxygen
Turning the pile (moving the materials from the sides into the middle and from the bottom to the top) will allow oxygen to reach the organisms which break down the material.
Moisture
- The pile should be moist, like a wrung-out sponge. Dry or wet piles will slow down the decomposition process.
- Check compost moisture by squeezing a handful. A few drops should come out.
- Adjust moisture by adding water to a dry pile or adding dry material to a wet pile.
Temperature
- For optimum composting, the compost temperature should be 90° to 140°.
- Consider checking the center of the pile periodically using a thermometer with a probe.
C:N Ratio
- The pile needs a good balance of carbon and nitrogen materials to decompose properly.
- The ideal C:N (carbon to nitrogen) ratio is 30:1 (30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen) or 30 parts leaves to 1 part grass clippings.
Compost Ingredients
Yard Waste
- leaves
- garden wastes
- wood chips/sawdust
- evergreen needles
- cornstalks
- grass clippings - can also be left on the lawn
Household Waste
- Yes
- vegetable wastes
- coffee grounds w/ filters
- egg shells
- fruit peels & rinds
- tea bags
- No
- bones
- mayonnaise
- butter
- milk
- pet manure
- oils
- cheese
- peanut butter
- meats
- fish scraps
- grease
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Common Problems and Solutions
| Problem |
Possible Cause |
Solution |
|
| Rotten Smell |
Too much moisture |
Turn pile or add dry material |
| Compaction |
Turn pile or make pile smaller |
| Ammonia Odor |
Too much nitrogen |
Add a high carbon material such as sawdust, wood chips or straw |
| Low Pile Temperature |
Pile too small |
Make pile larger or insulate with straw |
| Pile too dry |
Add water while turning pile |
| Lack of air in pile |
Turn pile |
| Lack of nitrogen |
Add a high nitrogen material such as grass clippings |
| Cold Weather |
Increase pile size or insulate pile with a layer of straw or wood chips |
| High Pile Temperature (over 140 degrees) |
Pile too large |
Reduce pile size |
| Lack of air in pile |
Turn pile |
| Pile is Damp & Warm in the Middle Only |
Pile too small |
Add more material and turn |
| Pests (rodents, insects, etc.) |
Meat scraps or fatty foods |
Remove meat and fatty food from the pile and cover with a layer of soil or sawdust or build a pest-proof container |
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