Household composting By Sonia Rousseau Environmental Awareness Officer

The 3RB principle 1) Reduce at the source 2) Reuse 3) Recycle 4) Beneficiate Composting Waste management

Environmental Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills Reduces the production of greenhouse gases (GHG) in landfills and during transportation Reduces groundwater contamination Regenerates soil Reduces the use of chemical fertilizers Advantages of composting

What is it? - The controlled decomposition of organic matter through the action of microorganisms. - Produces compost, which is a natural and nutrient-rich fertilizer for your plants and garden. Microorganisms - Bacteria - Insects - Fungi - Earthworms - Etc. Household composting Source: Source:

How do I start? - Find an appropriate outdoor location Good air circulation Semi-shaded Protected from the wind Flat surface Good drainage - Remove the grass and till the soil - Place finely cut branches or twigs at the base - Put your wet matter (green or nitrogen-rich) and dry matter (brown or carbon-rich) in the composter - Always maintain a good humidity level (like a squeezed sponge) and good aeration Household composting Source: composters-tools

How to layer compostable matter? - The lasagna technique 1/3 of wet/moist matter (green) 2/3 of dry matter (brown) - Maximum 1.50 m (60”) and minimum 90 cm (35”) - Stir the compost heap once every 10 days Household composting Dry ( cm) Cut branches or twigs (10 cm) Wet/moist (5 -7 cm) Dry ( cm) Wet/moist (5 -7 cm) Dry ( cm) Wet/moist (5 -7 cm)

Wet/moist materials (green or nitrogen-rich) - Kitchen waste Fruits Vegetables Egg shells Tea bags and coffee grounds - Garden waste Plants Cut grass (in small quantities) What can I compost?

Dry matter (brown or carbon-rich) - Kitchen waste rice, pasta, bread paper napkins paper (preferably recycled and shredded) cardboard - Garden waste dry leaves, hay, straw, wood chips, dry grass dead plants and dry leaves - Natural hair / feathers - Natural fabric (linen, wool, cotton, etc.) - Earth (rich in minerals) What can I compost?

Non-compostable matter - Meat, fish, bones - Sauces, oil and grease - Milk products - Wax paper or paper with colour ink - Litter - Weeds and seeds - Sick plants or leaves - Oak and walnut leaves (due to their tannin) - Rhubarb leaves (natural insecticide) - Softwood leaves (excessive acidity) - Maple leaves with tar spots - Materials treated with pesticides - Styrofoam What is non-compostable? Source: x.php?page=services&section=parasit es&ss=tacheGoudronneuse

From spring to fall Maturity - Ready in 12 to 13 weeks - Very little non-composted waste - Texture et colour of good soil - Constant temperature Collecting compost - Lift the trap - Return non-composted materials to the composter Compost Source: Composter.html

Uses - In your garden - In your flower beds - On your lawn - Before planting a tree - For your indoor plants Compost Source: lity/news/compost.html

-Continue filling your composter -Do not stir frozen materials -Decomposition will resume in the spring Composting in the winter? Source:

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