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MATERIALS TO USE
What materials can be composted?
Compost materials fall into two basic categories: those rich in nitrogen (N) and those rich in carbon (C). Nitrogen-rich materials (also called greens) are fresh and usually full of water. Carbon-rich materials (browns) are usually drier. The greater the variety of materials going into the compost, the richer the final compost will be in minerals.
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Table setting out these materials :
NITROGEN-RICH MATERIALS
Greens
CARBON-RICH MATERIALS
Browns
- Fruit residue*
- Vegetable residue*
- Coffee grounds (and filter)
- Tea leaves (and bags)
- Grass clippings
- Weeds (before they go to seed) *
- Herbivore manure
- Crushed eggshell
- Algae
- Plants - Dry tree leaves
- Straw/ Hay
- Wood chips
- Twigs
- Paper (although better to recycle))
- Paper napkins
- Pasta
- Bread
- Rice
- Nut shells
- Pits
- Natural fabric
- Hair/Nails
- Bird droppings
- Feathers
- Dead houseplants and dry flowers
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* These materials need to be shredded to increase their effectiveness.
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MATERIALS TO AVOID
- Soil - Weeds gone to seed
- Wood ash
- Lime
- BBQ briquets
- Meat and fish
- Oil
- Bones
- Dairy products
- Animal excrement (dogs and cats)
- Vacuum lint
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- Rhubarb leaves (stems are compostable)
- Materials contaminated with pesticides or toxic products
- Sick plants or leaves
- Plastic and metal
When to stop adding these materials
No new materials should be added to the composter as of the sixth week. They can be stored in another container or go into a second BluePlanetSmart. The last materials added will determine the composting time.
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Copyright © 2005 Ecolosphere Inc. All rights reserved. |
