RECYCLE HAWAII 2019 BACKYARD COMPOSTING Our mission is to lead solid waste reduction education on GOOD FOR THE 'ĀINA the island of Hawai`i. Composting is an excellent way to recover and use valuable nutrients in organic wastes to grow new plants. Recycle Hawai`i provides island- Compost is a dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling wide presentations to schools, communities and form of decomposing organic matter. Compost businesses. We respond to recycling questions via our is an essential part of healthy soil. About 30% telephone and by email. of our trash is yard waste and kitchen scraps.

You can keep this organic matter out of the We also partner with local county, state and federal agencies; other nonprofit organizations; and landfill and return it to the soil in a usable form community volunteers to promote waste by building a simple compost pile. reduction initiatives.

Please visit our display booths at community events IN THE EARTH throughout the year. Composting: • Helps breakdown heavy clay soils For more detailed information, visit our website • Adds water and nutrient-holding at www.recyclehawaii.org. capacity to sandy soil • Builds humus in rocky soils • Can be used as mulch to control P . O . B o x 4 8 4 7 • H i l o , H a w a i ` i 9 6 7 2 0 weeds I n f o L i n e : 8 0 8 - 9 6 9 - 2 0 1 2 • Returns nutrients to any soil

w w w . r e c y c l e h a w a i i . o r g • IN THE AIR i n f o @ r e c y c l e h a w a i i . o r g Composting food waste reduces methane production from landfills. QUICK NOTES When food waste decomposes without Burning or dumping solid waste without a permit air and air-loving bacteria, it produces is an illegal and punishable offense. methane gas. PLEASE DON'T COMPOST IN THE WATER Meat, fat, bones, fish, cooking oil Soil rich in organic matter acts as a filter Dairy, tofu for environmental toxins. Using Glossy paper, chemically treated wood compost as a fertilizer will decrease the need for harmful synthetic fertilizers. Pet litter or feces, human waste Charcoal ashes, lime, soil, sand PASSIVE COMPOSTING FINISHED COMPOST THE LAZY MAN'S COMPOST F i n i s h e d c o m p o s t i s c a l l e d h u m u s , a n d i s c r u m b l y , d a r k b r o w n o r b l a c k Find a convenient spot at least 3-feet long and a n d s w e e t s m e l l i n g . 3-feet wide. Collect green (high nitrogen) and • S p r e a d c o m p o s t o n y o u r f l o w e r o r brown (high carbon) materials which will be v e g e t a b l e g a r d e n b e f o r e t u r n i n g t h e added in layers. s o i l . A p p l y c o m p o s t a r o u n d f l o w e r s For the first layer, stack six inches of small o r b e t w e e n g a r d e n r o w s . 1 branches, twigs and dry leaves on the ground. GET THE RECIPE • Use as a mulch for bushes, trees, and plants to Now add six inches of kitchen scraps, conserve moisture, control weeds, and insulate 2 or 'greens.' 2 parts brown plant roots. W o o d y m a t t e r i s h i g h e r i n c a r b o n . D r y Alternate layers of green materials with layers g r a s s o r l e a v e s , s h r e d d e d 3 of brown materials on top. Mixing an equal • M a k e a c o m p o s t t e a o r s l u r r y n e w s p a p e r / o f f i c e p a p e r , c a r d b o a r d , volume of brown and green materials will give s o l u t i o n t o f e e d p o t t e d p l a n t s . . m u l c h . C h o p w o o d y m a t t e r w i t h a the correct balance of nutrients for your m a c h e t e o r l a w n m o w e r t o p r o m o t e compost. You can also add finished compost f a s t e r d e c o m p o s i t i o n . • For mature plants, mix sifted compost into between layers to jump start decomposition in potting soil mixture. a compost pile by adding beneficial bacteria.Wet each layer. 1 part green • D o n o t u s e c o m p o s t t o g e r m i n a t e Repeat the layering until the pile is about 3 M a n u r e a n d k i t c h e n s c r a p s a r e h i g h e r s e e d s a s i t m a y c o n t a i n a f u n g u s t h a t feet tall (at least one cubic yard in size). i n n i t r o g e n . F r e s h g r a s s c l i p p i n g s a r e c o u l d k i l l s e e d l i n g s . a l s o n i t r o g e n r i c h . B u r y k i t c h e n s c r a p s Cover with a 1-inch layer of old compost or dry w i t h i n t h e p i l e t o a v o i d a t t r a c t i n g f l i e s 4 grass clippings to minimize flies. Fresh, wet o r a n i m a l s . grass clippings can and does attract fruit flies. “Brown” material should be added to act as a carbon cap on the pile. Air T h e m i c r o b e s t h a t b r e a k d o w n f o o d When the composting process is working, the Troubleshooting a n d y a r d w a s t e i n t o c o m p o s t n e e d a i r pile’s center will get REALLY hot: 130 - 150 5 t o s u r v i v e . T u r n i n g t h e p i l e ( n o m o r e I f y o u h a v e i t m a y b e f i x i t b y degrees Fahrenheit. The pile will shrink as it t h a n o n c e a w e e k ) w i l l h a s t e n decomposes. d e c o m p o s i t i o n . B a d o d o r N o t e n o u g h a i r T u r n i n g T o o m a n y g r e e n s A d d i n g ' b r o w n s ' Passive composting will take from two to four S l o w N o t e n o u g h M o i s t e n months, depending on size of materials 6 Water c o m p o s t w a t e r a n d t u r n (smaller pieces decompose faster than large Y e s , y o u r m i c r o b e s w i l l a l s o n e e d chunks), moisture content, and outside w a t e r , b u t n o t t o o m u c h ! K e e p p i l e N o h e a t N o t e n o u g h M i x i n m o r e temperature. m o i s t , b u t n o t s o g g y . Y o u m a y n e e d t o g r e e n s g r e e n m a t e r i a l s C o v e r p i l e d u r i n g t h e h o t t e s t p a r t o f N o t e n o u g h t o o s m a l l M i x i n m o r e t h e d a y o r i n e x c e s s i v e l y r a i n y w e a t h e r . h e a t m a t e r i a l s P e s t s t o o t a s t y no meat or dairy T u r n O f t e n