Composting
Compost is a mix of broken-down organic compounds that can be added to soil as a fertilizer. Use it for your garden, houseplants, or landscaping to promote plant growth. It won't harm the environment like many inorganic fertilizers,1 and it helps water filter through the soil, which reduces time spent watering your plants and prevents stormwater runoff.2
Even if you don’t garden, compost is an important part of saving the environment. 51.4% of landfill waste is made up of organic materials, most of which could be composted instead.3 While in the landfill, decomposing organic trash generates methane4, a greenhouse gas 84x more potent than CO2 that rapidly accelerates climate change.5 But when used to make compost, it not only prevents that methane production, but helps to capture CO2 from the atmosphere and grow healthy plants that do the same, reducing climate change.6 You can sell your compost to a local garden store or on an online marketplace. You can even donate it to a neighbor, school, or farm.
A brief overview of backyard composting...
1. Make a composting bin. It could be a garbage can, plastic bin, old piece of wooden furniture, or chicken wire. It should have a lid and small holes for aeration.
2. Create a base layer of “browns.” Mix together 2-3 parts of “greens” and 1 part of “browns” on top. Cut down materials for faster decomposition. Add water as you go.
3. There are two ways to go about mixing your compost...
- Hot Composting (3-5 months): Remix your compost pile and add water frequently. The more often you mix, the faster it will break down. Microorganisms need water and oxygen to do their jobs.
- Cold Composting (1 year): Leave your pile unattended. It will still break down, just take a longer time.
4. After 8-12 weeks, remove the oldest compost from the bottom of the bin. It is considered “unfinished” and should cure for 4 weeks in a separate bin.
For more in-depth information on composting, please view the composting resources list.
| Greens (nitrogen-rich) | Browns (carbon-rich) |
|---|---|
| Vegetable + Fruit Scraps | Dry Leaves |
| Crushed Egg Shells | Ripped-up Paper |
| Coffee Grounds + Filters | Plant Stalks |
| Cut Flowers + Plants | Twigs + Branches |
| Grass Clippings | Wood Chips |
| Tea Bags (No Staples!) | Ripped-up Cardboard |
| Straw |
Don't Use:
Meat, fish, bones, dairy, fats, oil, grease, pet waste, litter, herbicide-treated plants, aggressive weeds, diseased plants, produce stickers, dryer lint, treated/painted wood, used tissues + paper towels.
If you can't compost at home, here are some other easy options:
- Back to Earth holds a composting drop-off site the 1st + 3rd Saturday of each month at the Malvern Farmers’ Market.
They also offer subscription-based curbside compost collections. Learn more about Back to Earth. - The township will collect certain compostable materials (Yard Waste, Grass Clippings, Leaves, Tree Limbs) FOR FREE.
- Place items in paper bags or open containers (without any attached lids) next to your trash and recycling bin. Tree limbs (no larger than 3" diameter x 3' long) must be bundled with string/twine.
- Can't be dumped/collected: plastic bags, household waste, bamboo, soil/dirt, tree stumps.
- Curbside Collection Dates: 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month
- Year-Round Disposal: A township dumpster for these items is located at 132 Oscar Way, Chester Springs, 19425
1. Scientific American “How Fertilizers Harm Earth More Than Help Your Lawn” 2. US Composting Council “What are the Benefits of Compost” 3. Environmental Protection Agency “Composting” 4. NPR “Your Trash Is Emitting Methane In The Landfill” 5. United Nations Environment Programme “Methane action: Tackling a warming planet” 6. UCLA “Carbon sequestration through compost”