Rachel Carson Homestead’s

D Health & the Environment Series

O
H

M E S T EA

Tools for
Sustainable
Living
C om pos t i n g

People are part of the problem:

Did you know that ...
Food and yard waste make up 24% of
all municipal waste

Americans generate nearly 31 million

tons of food and yard waste a year

Every American throws away the

equivalent of 10,000 pieces of paper a
year

One-sixth of all household garbage is

food and yard waste

Leaves, grass clippings and other yard

debris clog landfills, taking up 20-40%
of landfill space

People are the solution, too.

Make smart choices!
What is composting and how
can I do it?
Compost is organic material that can be used as a soil amendment or
as a medium to grow plants. Mature compost is a stable material with
a content called humus that is dark brown or black and has a soil-like,
earthy smell. It is created by: combining organic wastes (e.g., yard
trimmings, food wastes, manures) in proper ratios into piles, rows,
or vessels; adding bulking agents (e.g., wood chips) as necessary to
accelerate the breakdown
of organic materials;
and allowing the finished
material to fully stabilize
and mature through a curing
process.

Natural composting, or
biological decomposition,
began with the first plants
on earth and has been going
on ever since. As vegetation
falls to the ground, it slowly The diagram above shows typical garbage can contents. As
decays, providing minerals you can see, without recycling programs, including home and
and nutrients needed for municipal composting, we’re sending a lot to the landfill!

plants, animals, and microorganisms. Mature compost, however,

includes the production of high temperatures to destroy pathogens and
weed seeds that natural decomposition does not destroy.

What to compost
You can compost almost any organic material. Yard debris such as
dead leaves, grass clippings, and garden remains usually compost
well. Food material such as fruit and vegetable peelings, crushed
egg shells, coffee grounds and filters, and tea bags do well in a
compost pile, but be sure to take the staples out of the tea bags first.
Shredded newspapers, paper plates, napkins, and paper towels can
be composted, as well as manure and bedding from large livestock,
poultry and rabbits. However, do not attempt to compost meat, bones
or fatty material. Things like dairy, oil, pet or human waste, or treated
wood products don’t belong in a compost pile and it should go without
saying that any plastic or synthetic products stay out of the compost.
Be sure that you do not use diseased plant material or anything
treated with chemicals.

How to compost
Compost consists of four main components. “Brown” materials are
high in carbon and are materials such as dead leaves and vegetable
matter. Brown materials should consist of approximately 75% of the
pile. “Green” materials are high in nitrogen and should make up the
remaining 25% of the pile. Fresh vegetable matter and manure (not
pet waste) are considered green. The compost also needs water. The
material should have the moisture of a wrung-out sponge. The final
ingredient in compost is the introduction of oxygen. If the mixture is
correct, heat will be generated.

Some people prefer a commercially-made compost bin. A homemade

container should be no less than 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet and well
ventilated. You will also need easy access for turning the pile and
adding more material. Another approach is to let worms eat your trash,
in a process called “vermi-composting.” Worms will eat almost anything,
produce little odor, take up little space, and they work fast. A variety
of inexpensive or home made bins contain the worms and wastes such
that you can add more waste and remove the finished product in a
convenient way.

Begin by chopping all materials into small pieces. Layer the brown and
green layers, each 4-6 inches thick, and moisten lightly. Turn the pile
thoroughly. This will allow
for air spaces between
the materials. Continue
adding layers, moistening
and turning them. When
the pile is complete,
continue turning it every
5-7 days. When the pile
stops generating heat,
the material looks black
and crumbly, and it smells
earthy, your compost is
ready to use!

Compost Can...
There are over a million earthworms in just one acre of soil.
• Suppress plant diseases
Together, these worms can eat 10 tons of leaves, stems,
and pests.
and dead roots a year, and turn over 40 tons of soil.
• Reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers.
• Promote higher yields of agricultural crops.
• Facilitate reforestation, wetlands restoration, and habitat revitalization
efforts by amending contaminated, compacted, and marginal soils.
• Cost-effectively remediate soils contaminated by hazardous waste.
• Remove solids, oil, grease, and heavy metals from stormwater runoff.
• Provide cost savings of at least 50 percent over conventional soil,
water, and air pollution remediation technologies, where applicable.
How to Help the Environment
People are directly or indirectly responsible for waste and
contamination, and can control the expansion of its effects by being
aware of the problem and making responsible consumer choices.

Some examples of things you can do yourself are:

aReduce the amount of waste you send to the

landfill by starting a compost pile or bin
a Compost the following materials: Animal manure,
Cardboard rolls, Clean paper, Coffee grounds and
filters, Cotton rags, Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint,
Eggshells, Fireplace ashes, Fruits and vegetables,
Grass clippings, Hair and fur, Hay and straw,
Houseplants, Leaves, Nut shells, Sawdust, Shredded
newspaper, Tea bags, Wood chips, Wool rags, Yard
trimmings
a Do not include the following materials in your
compost: Black walnut tree leaves or twigs (releases
substances that might be harmful to plants), Coal or
charcoal ash (might contain substances harmful to
plants), Dairy products (Create odor problems and
attract pests such as rodents and flies), Diseased
or insect-ridden plants (diseases or insects might
survive), Fats, grease, lard or oils (create odor
problems and attract pests), Pet wastes (might
contain harmful parasites, bacteria, germs etc.), Yard
trimmings treated with Chemical Pesticides (might kill
beneficial composting organisms).

For more information on composting, see our Resources list.

Everyday Action Steps
• RECYCLE as much of your garbage as possible, through municipal or
community programs, and through composting.
• KEEP a small container near your sink for vegetable peel, tea bags,
etc. that you empty into your compost each day.
• EDUCATE YOURSELF about composting and healthy soil and educate
your family and friends.
• BUY OR GROW ORGANIC food whenever possible.
• READ THE LABELS on products you use or buy. Seek alternative
products that contain natural ingredients.
• AVOID USING PESTICIDES in your home or yard, or on your pet
– use baits or traps instead, keeping your home especially clean to
prevent ant or roach infestations.
• SUPPORT EFFORTS to get strong government regulation of and
increased funding on domestic and municipal composting and recycling
programs.

Resources
For more information on composting:
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - http://www.epa.gov/
epaoswer/non-hw/composting/index.htm
• Penn State University - http://backyardcompost.cas.psu.edu/
• Pennsylvania Resources Council, Inc. - http://www.prc.org/
community_adultedu.html
Washington State University - http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/
fundamentals/
• Building Compost Bins-California Integrated waste Management
Board, http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/publications
• Composting with worms-Flowerfield Enterprises http://www.
wormwoman.com
• Worms Eat My Garbage by Mary Appelhof, Flower Press, Michigan
• Penn State Extension Service Publications-http://pubs.cas.psu.edu
• Department of Environmental Protection, Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania “Composting: It’s Mulch Better!” http://www.dep.state.
pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/wm/recycle/compost_sum/home.htm
 D
O
H M E S T EA

The Rachel Carson Homestead Association’s mission is to preserve

and restore scientist and author Rachel Carson’s first home and to
provide educational program and resources that promote Carson’s
environmental ethic:
• Live in harmony with nature
• Preserve and learn from natural places
• Minimize the impact of man-made chemicals on natural systems of
the world
• Consider the implications of human actions on the global web of life

The Rachel Carson Legacy Challenge: green steps to a sustainable

future, was launched in 2007 and asks people to examine ways in
which we all can reduce our impact on the web of eco-systems we call
Earth. Whether by conserving energy sources, using organic products,
avoiding use of dangerous chemicals and reducing our fossil fuel
consumption, each one of us can make a difference ... and it all adds
up. Here are some ideas:
• Explore and use alternative energy sources
• Buy local
• Conserve energy in my home
• Preserve natural habitat on my property
• Use Integrated Pest Management
• Recycle
• Reduce my use of and exposure to chemicals
• Use public transportation
Visit us to learn more.
www.rachelcarsonhomestead.org
Rachel Carson Homestead Association
613 Marion Avenue, PO Box 46
Springdale, PA 15144-0046
(724) 274-5459 • info@rachelcarsonhomestead.org

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