A simple and effective way to reduce waste, enrich your soil, and create a healthier and more sustainable environment is making compost from leftover food. In addition to composting reducing the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills, composting helps to conserve water, save money on fertilizers, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At Mickey’s Carting, we help you remove trash from your property with scheduled pickups, dumpster rentals, junk removal services and more. To help you reduce trash by composting, we at Mickey’s Carting would like to offer some tips on how to make compost from your leftovers.
What are the Things Needed to Make Compost?
To make your very own compost, there are several easy steps for a simple learning process on a general. Below is how you can get started making compost from your leftover food.
1) Selecting a Container/ Area for Compost. Either you can build a more elaborate compost bin using wood or other materials, or you can use a simple plastic bin with holes in it. You can also create a compost pile directly on the ground if you have a backyard.
2) Compostable Materials Collection. Including leftover food, coffee grounds, eggshells, and yard waste, any organic material can be used in compost. As these can attract pests and create unpleasant odors, avoid adding meat, dairy products, or oils to your compost.
3) To Your Compost Bin or Pile, Add a Layer of Brown Materials. To help to balance out the “green” materials, which are high in nitrogen, you need to add “brown” materials, such as fallen leaves, straw, and wood chips to provide carbon.
4) Your Compost Needs to Add a Layer of Green Materials. Nitrogen-rich materials, “green” materials include food scraps, grass clippings, and other moist.
5) Moisten & Mix the Compost. Add water to moisten the compost as needed and use a pitchfork or shovel to mix the brown and green materials together. Moisture encourages the growth of beneficial microorganisms as well as helps to activate the composting process.
6) Monitor & Turn Over Your Compost. You will need to monitor it regularly and turn it over every few weeks to ensure that your compost is breaking down properly. It speeds up the decomposition process as this helps to aerate the compost and allows it to heat up.
7) Compost Harvesting. It may take anywhere from several weeks to several months for your compost to be ready, depending on the size of your compost bin or pile, and the materials you’ve added. When it’s finished, it should be a rich, dark brown color and have a crumbly texture. To improve its structure and fertility, you can use your compost as a natural fertilizer for your plants, or mix. As you reduce waste and improve the health of your soil, composting is an easy and rewarding way to do your part. You can turn your leftover food into a valuable resource that benefits both the environment and your garden with a little bit of effort.
Waste Management & More in Amagansett, Aquebogue, Baiting Hollow, Calverton, Cutchogue, East Hampton, East Hampton North, Greenport, Jamesport, Laurel, Mattituck, Montauk, Nassau Point, Northville, Northwest Harbor, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Southold, Springs, Wading River, Westhampton Beach in East End of Long Island, New York
For your waste removal needs in New York contact Mickey’s Carting and let us provide scheduled pickup, junk removal services, dumpster rental and more.
