Recycling 
Kids/Teachers
Activities, Games and Research for Kids
and Teachers
Composting
Composting is one of the coolest things you can do with your food waste. It is also one of the best ways to reduce how much garbage your family sends out to the curb each and every week. In fact you can reduce the amount of garbage by half a bag every week!
How Does It Work?
Composting is the process of breaking down organic waste to a soil like material which is high in nutrients. For composting to work a few things are needed. Firstly, organic material, non-organic material such as plastic will not break down. The next thing that is needed is organisms, and lastly, a combination of water and air.
Organic Material
For your composter to work its best, it needs a mixture of nitrogen & carbon rich materials. Nitrogen materials are basically "green", and carbon materials are basically "brown". Sound confusing? Let's break it down old school:
Greens
Fruits and vegetables, peels and cores, coffee grounds, tea bags, egg shells, rice and pasta, houseplant cuttings, grass clippings, weeds, flowers and vegetables, hedge clippings, and sod.
Browns
Coffee filters, nut shells, stale bread, brown paper bags, pet hair, dry grass clippings, dried weeds, leaves, straw or hay, twigs and branches, and pine needles.
Get it? Good! So remember to keep a little "green" and "brown" material in your composter at all times!
Organisms
Inside every compost pile lives thousands of tiny insects and organisms like fungi working hard to break down the organic material you put in. In this section we'll look at these critters and explore what they do inside your composter. Click here to learn more!
Water and Air
Now that we know what material is compostable and how this material is broken down, we now have to take care of our organisms. This is done with two easy steps.
Composters need air. Just like you, insects need to breathe as well. Do this by stirring your composter once a week with a shovel or garden hoe. This way air gets right to the bottom of your composter.
Composters need moisture. Just like you, insects need water to survive. Do this by adding a little water if you suspect your composter is too dry.
If you do all these steps, then you are a certified Master Composter!
Now What?
In a few weeks, dig to the bottom of your composter, if you have taken care of it properly you will see soil! That's right, the organic materials you put in have been broken down to soil. This is not regular soil however, this soil is full of rich nutrients that plants need to survive. Take this soil out and work it into your Mom or Dad's gardens, they'll be glad you did.
