Composting is a fantastic way to reduce waste and help plants grow. Compost slowly releases nutrients to soil, holds water during droughts and stores carbon in the ground rather than releasing it into the atmosphere. It doesn’t take much to begin a do-it-yourself composting project. You can compost indoors or outdoors, whichever works best for you.

We don’t have unlimited space for trash in Onondaga County. A study in 2019 showed about 21% of the waste that is processed as trash in Onondaga County is compostable food. By removing food from the waste stream, you can make the circular economy work right in your backyard.

What is compost?

By mixing food scraps and yard waste with the proper amount of water and air, we provide a ripe environment for microscopic organisms to break down organic material. That happens all the time in nature. Fruit falls from trees and mixes with leaves as it decomposes and returns nutrients to the soil, fueling more growth.

How do you begin composting?

First, consider your space. Do you have a back yard with a shady area? Do you prefer keeping food scraps and yard waste in a container while they break down? Will you need to compost indoors?

Outdoor composting can be accomplished with a simple pile in your back yard that is regularly turned. There are also different types of bins, rotating drums and wire frames to store food scraps and yard waste, depending on your preference. Washington State University has a resource page with several examples.

Indoor composting is also an option. A method called vermicomposting involves a bin, bedding, food scraps and….worms. You read that correctly! Indoor composters often use worms to eat food as it breaks down. A common option is red wigglers. What worms leave behind after digesting your food scraps can be added to soil to give it a nutritious boost. Watch this guide to vermicomposting from Broome County’s Cornell Cooperative Extension.

What goes into a compost pile?

Compost needs a good balance of carbon-rich materials (browns), nitrogen-rich materials (greens), water and oxygen. The carbon and nitrogen come from the organic materials (food scraps and yard waste) that you mix together. Don’t go too heavy on food waste or it will create a stronger odor. Avoid meat and bones, which can attract critters to your pile. Also, do not include dairy products like milk or yogurt. Do not add any yard waste that has been treated with pesticides. You don’t want to transfer a toxic substance to your garden.

How long will it take to break down?

The length of the process varies based on your method of composting, how often you turn the pile and the ingredients used. Good aeration, achieved by turning your pile regularly with a pitchfork or similar tool, speeds up the composting process. Add a little water if you think your pile is drying out, but don’t make it soggy. The compost is likely ready when it smells earthy and looks similar to soil.

What if I can’t compost at home?

You can always give your garden a boost by purchasing the compost OCRRA produces. We recycle food scraps and yard waste from Onondaga County to create an all-natural soil amendment, made locally. Buy in bulk or by the bag to add nutrients to soil, retain moisture and help plants grow better.

2024 OCRRA Composting Highlights

9 million pounds of food scraps were processed into compost by OCRRA.

29,000 yards of high quality compost were produced, meeting all testing requirements by the U.S. Composting Council and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

More than 10,000 bags of compost were sold.

54,000 yards of trees, limbs, grass, leaves and other yard waste were accepted at our Amboy and Jamesville Compost Sites and turned it into thousands of yards of compost and mulch for our community.