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Composting is a great way to reduce the amount of waste we’re
putting into our landfill each year.
What is compost? It’s a natural process through which organic
material is converted into a soil-like product called compost or
humus. The process works with the help of micro-organisms such as
bacteria and fungi combined with air and moisture. The end product
is a valuable soil supplement that can be used in gardening and
landscaping.
What can you compost?
Most household organic waste can be composted at home. Examples
include:
- Leaves (chopped - to speed their breakdown)
- Grass (not wet)
- Plants & Weeds (without ripe seeds)
- Old potting soil
- Soft plant stems
- Fruit scraps
- Vegetable trimmings
- Egg shells (crushed)
- Tea bags
- Coffee grounds with filters
- Shredded paper
DO NOT INCLUDE: meat, fish and bones, plastics, metals, fats and
oils, dairy products, pet waste, cheese, meat or other sauces.
How do you compost?
The municipality has limited supplies of composter and if you are interested in obtaining one please call Department of Physical Services at 567-9365, or most hardware and general household stores like Grant’s Home
Hardware, Canadian Tire and Breault’s either carry or can
order compost containers for you. Set up the container in a sunny
area with good drainage. Turn the soil in the location where the
composter will be. After placing the composter, cover the floor
of it with a layer of small branches. This will allow for air movement
and drainage. Alternate wet (e.g. kitchen scraps) and dry (e.g.
yard material) waste. If available, add some "finished"
compost, garden soil or a compost starter (available at most garden
centres) to the pile. This helps speed up the start of the composting
process.
Remember that composting is a continuous process. Keep your additions
small, and make sure that the compost pile is neither too wet nor
too dry. The right composition is moist like a wrung-out sponge.
Resources:
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