There seems to be lots of confusion as to exactly what you can and can't recycle.
Here are a few things I know for sure, and just a few things I suggest.
The number one rule of all is to know where your recycling is headed, meaning what facility/company is it going to, then find out what their rules are. You see, one place may take certain things where as another may not.
Ted's Recycling bales it's own cardboard and handles it's own aluminum. They are a recycling island unto themselves. Their rules apply.
Doty's bin near the tracks, however, goes to the Montgomery County Recycling Facility in Hillsboro, IL. So the rules of this facility apply to what goes into Doty's bin.
The Green Fiber bins around town belong to a company that makes insulation. They have their own rules to follow. Usually these are on the side of the bin. They do not want ANYTHING with food contamination.
So, onward. There is a big controversy over pizza boxes. Some say don't recycle because Ug! there is food in it. Some say just do it. What is our situation in Greenville?
Well, it just so happens that I asked an employee of the Montgomery County Recycling Facility recently, "Can we recycle pizza boxes?". Her answer was "Yes!" Her reason being that they are allowed 5% contamination in each bale of cardboard that they produce.
Now - this means a little grease spot is OK, but if your pizza box is crusted over with melted cheese and black olives glued to it, I'd perhaps think twice. Try to clean it off as much as possible, and if you can't, then rip off the lid or any part that isn't covered in cheese. However, if its just a few crumbs that can't be shook out and a little grease circle where the pizza was then recycle away!
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are using the Green Fiber bins that are found around town, then you MAY NOT recycle your pizza boxes. They do not want any food at all in there bins. This takes us back to the most important rule of all found above. Know where your recyclables are going and follow the rules of that facility.
Another fine thing to know: Doty, which again, takes it's stuff to the Montgomery County Facility in Hillsboro, only takes steel and aluminum cans. Aluminum cans only are allowed at this facility. If you have other aluminum stuff that can be recycled then take it to Ted's Recycling. They recycle ALL kinds of aluminum. I asked once if they take pie pans, tin foil, tops of yogurt containers, etc. They said they would if they are completely clean and have no food on them.
Another question: Can you leave the paper labels on glass or steel cans? The answer is yes. The Montgomery County Facility does allow labels on their cans. However, I entreat you to just take an extra second or two and rip them off. Why? Because they can be put in your paper recycling. Just think of all the paper on cans that can be recycled. The same goes for glass jars. Those are a little harder to get off, so don't freak out if you can't. There is actually a cleaning process by which these are taken off in the recycling facilities. But if you can get if off without too much trouble then why not?
I have been asked about the plastic paper windows in envelopes. Again, (you should know the mantra by now) it depends on where you are recycling. Some companies, like Montgomery Co. Recycling want their paper and magazines and such separated. In this case, I would guess that you shouldn't put the plastic window in with paper. (This is a guess and I plan on asking next time I'm there) The Green Fiber bins are another place that I would say, "no" to the plastic windows. As their name suggests, they are after fibrous material. However, if you are taking your paper to Ted's, they take paper, newspaper, magazines, office paper all together in a big bin that says, "Mixed Paper". In this case I think it's OK.
Three last things:
1. Don't panic if you do something wrong. It's OK. You are taking action and making an effort. The only way to do it is just to start and learn as you go. Soon you will be answering other peoples piercing recycling questions.
2. As a general rule, please wash out your recycling. Contamination is not a great thing and it doesn't take a great imagination to think about what a recycling site (like our Doty dumpster) would be like if there was food everywhere. I don't know about you, but I don't want to encounter rodents of any kind. There is inevitably some contamination in the process, however, we can help out the facilities and make their job more productive by washing out our stuff.
3. Think about composting all the food stuff you are scraping out of your recyclables. A huge chunk of what goes into landfills is food. This is really sad, because food in plastic bags emits methane gas which contributes greatly to global warming. People don't realize this fact. However, if food is composted, it's methane release is minor, and it produces rich soil that can be used on vegetable gardens with great results. (read my other posts on composting- or check out one of my green links on how to start composting)
note: you don't have to waste lots of water to do this. Let things soak. Rinse them right away before they get hard. Put glass and some plastic in the dish washer.
I would be glad to entertain any more questions at any time, and I will let you know as I learn too.
Happy recycling!
Showing posts with label composting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label composting. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
The Art of Composting by Ella B. Peters
My mother-in-law so graciously gave me this information to post on my blog! She has been composting for years, and is a real pro. As you all know, plants arise where ere she walks. I hope this article will be beneficial to many people, me included.
The Art of Composting
by
Ella B. Peters
by
Ella B. Peters
Most of us were brought up in an era when "waste not - want not" was a well used adage. This alone should spur us on to return to Mother Earth what is hers.
The advantages of adding compost to the soil are numerous. Most importantly you make the soil richer by adding nutrients as well as increasing it's "water-holding" capacity. There is better aeration and texture too! The utter joy "garden addicts" experience spreading the "black gold" around bedding plants and perennials is no small thing either!
There is a misconception among many that one needs large areas to compost or that the whole procedure is to "smelly". Firstly, large areas are nice to have but successful composting does not depend on size. Secondly, if you have odor, this is easily corrected by turning your pile more often. Composting is not expensive either. It's free!!
Compost is a combiniation of high nitrogen and high carbon materials with the addition of air and water. The smaller your "organic stuff" the faster it will break down or decompose. I use a big old blender (bought for a few dollars at a garage sale) for all my vegetable and fruit trimmings as well as egg shells. (It's amazing the amount a two member household can acquire in a day!) I keep a plastic ice cream bucket by my sink so that my husband is reminded that banana peels, etc do not go down the garbage disposal or into the waste can but to the compost heap!
Chewing up leaves with a lawn mower helps speed up the process as well as taking up less space in your pile, box, bag or bin. Using a machete or axe to chop up vines, tough stems (such as from sunflowers) also speeds decomposition.
The advantages of adding compost to the soil are numerous. Most importantly you make the soil richer by adding nutrients as well as increasing it's "water-holding" capacity. There is better aeration and texture too! The utter joy "garden addicts" experience spreading the "black gold" around bedding plants and perennials is no small thing either!
There is a misconception among many that one needs large areas to compost or that the whole procedure is to "smelly". Firstly, large areas are nice to have but successful composting does not depend on size. Secondly, if you have odor, this is easily corrected by turning your pile more often. Composting is not expensive either. It's free!!
Compost is a combiniation of high nitrogen and high carbon materials with the addition of air and water. The smaller your "organic stuff" the faster it will break down or decompose. I use a big old blender (bought for a few dollars at a garage sale) for all my vegetable and fruit trimmings as well as egg shells. (It's amazing the amount a two member household can acquire in a day!) I keep a plastic ice cream bucket by my sink so that my husband is reminded that banana peels, etc do not go down the garbage disposal or into the waste can but to the compost heap!
Chewing up leaves with a lawn mower helps speed up the process as well as taking up less space in your pile, box, bag or bin. Using a machete or axe to chop up vines, tough stems (such as from sunflowers) also speeds decomposition.
Compost Recipe
High-carbon materials (fibrous things)
- Straw
- Saw dust
- Shredded newspaper (not glossy magazines or colored newsprint) (I soak my "shreds" in a bucket of water overnight)
- Leaves
- Hay
- Pine needles
- Hedge trimmings
- Coffee grinds and tea leaves
- Lawn clippings
- Barnyard manure
- Fresh weeds that have not gone to seed
- Fruit and vegetable "kitchen parings"
- Perennial prunings
Methods of Composting
1. The Black Plastic Bag
If you are extremely limited in space and time, this method is for you! Toss your kitchen trimmings in a large heave garbage bag. (I'd use the blender first.) Add 1/2 cup of water if your trimmings are dry. Remember the compost needs moisture but shoud not be "soppy-wet". Toss in a cup or two of garden soil which has the microbes for break-down. (Store bought soil will not do!) Tie bag and shake. Open bag every 3 days to allow air in. If odor is strong your materials are too wet. You'll have compost 4-5 weeks after you've stopped adding scraps.
2. The Pile Method
One of the simplest ways to compost is to have a pile (or two or three in different stages in a corner of your garden or yard). Fences, flowers or trees are good ways to hide your "pile". Simply build layers of high-nitrogen, high-carbon materials adding a few light layers of garden dirt then sprinkle with water or let the rain do it! Your pile should be at least 3 feet by 3 feet to collect enough heat inside to "cook". Be sure your matting things like grass clippings and leaves are placed in thin layers as they tend to pack down under weight. When this happens anaerobic (without air) bacteria take over and your pile becomes a slimy mess! If you are in a hurry for compost, turn your pile every 3 days but this is not necessary. The composting process slows down in cold weather and speeds up during hot days.
3. The Box
A simply constructed 3 foot by 3 foot box with slats across the bottom for air is a more contained but easier method to compost.
4. Compost Bins
Store bought bins and tumblers are a great idea but more expensive. So far I've resisted the temptation to invest in the beautiful "contraptions" but they are efficient and not as unsightly as a pile. Most gardeners have too much compost for one machine and would need to resort to additional methods.
5. the Barrel
A round 3 foot hight and 2 foot wide barrel is a good compost vehicle that is mobile. Simply poke holes all over the barrel with a hammer and nail. Add your high-carbon and high-nitrogen materials with a little garden soil and water. If your materials are damp, omit the water. Put on the lid and every few days give the barrel a good roll. Put away upright and in 3-4 weeks you should have compost.
I always have been intrigued with the science of composting. If you are not, you may stop reading. The workhorses of the compost heap are the bacteria, fungi and other microbes. These creatures are found in common garden soil and every garden has them! They multiply by the billions in new compost and begin breaking down the material. This process generates or creates heat through oxidation. As the microbes break down the matter, they make "yummy" nutrients for the next "people" in the chain of critters such as mites and protozoa. The next group of workers are the millipedes, worms and sow bugs. Some times I look at my compost pile and wonder what's all in there. It's down right scary.
If you are extremely limited in space and time, this method is for you! Toss your kitchen trimmings in a large heave garbage bag. (I'd use the blender first.) Add 1/2 cup of water if your trimmings are dry. Remember the compost needs moisture but shoud not be "soppy-wet". Toss in a cup or two of garden soil which has the microbes for break-down. (Store bought soil will not do!) Tie bag and shake. Open bag every 3 days to allow air in. If odor is strong your materials are too wet. You'll have compost 4-5 weeks after you've stopped adding scraps.
2. The Pile Method
One of the simplest ways to compost is to have a pile (or two or three in different stages in a corner of your garden or yard). Fences, flowers or trees are good ways to hide your "pile". Simply build layers of high-nitrogen, high-carbon materials adding a few light layers of garden dirt then sprinkle with water or let the rain do it! Your pile should be at least 3 feet by 3 feet to collect enough heat inside to "cook". Be sure your matting things like grass clippings and leaves are placed in thin layers as they tend to pack down under weight. When this happens anaerobic (without air) bacteria take over and your pile becomes a slimy mess! If you are in a hurry for compost, turn your pile every 3 days but this is not necessary. The composting process slows down in cold weather and speeds up during hot days.
3. The Box
A simply constructed 3 foot by 3 foot box with slats across the bottom for air is a more contained but easier method to compost.
4. Compost Bins
Store bought bins and tumblers are a great idea but more expensive. So far I've resisted the temptation to invest in the beautiful "contraptions" but they are efficient and not as unsightly as a pile. Most gardeners have too much compost for one machine and would need to resort to additional methods.
5. the Barrel
A round 3 foot hight and 2 foot wide barrel is a good compost vehicle that is mobile. Simply poke holes all over the barrel with a hammer and nail. Add your high-carbon and high-nitrogen materials with a little garden soil and water. If your materials are damp, omit the water. Put on the lid and every few days give the barrel a good roll. Put away upright and in 3-4 weeks you should have compost.
I always have been intrigued with the science of composting. If you are not, you may stop reading. The workhorses of the compost heap are the bacteria, fungi and other microbes. These creatures are found in common garden soil and every garden has them! They multiply by the billions in new compost and begin breaking down the material. This process generates or creates heat through oxidation. As the microbes break down the matter, they make "yummy" nutrients for the next "people" in the chain of critters such as mites and protozoa. The next group of workers are the millipedes, worms and sow bugs. Some times I look at my compost pile and wonder what's all in there. It's down right scary.
Tips for Composting
A person should own a pitchfork or what farmers call a hay or manure fork. It has 5 or 6 tines that make it easy to turn your pile or add layers. Do not turn your heap until it is ready. The heat inside is needed for good break down and the center of the pile should be 130 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. One measures the temperature by inserting a thermometer in the center of the pile (or inserting your hand. It should feel real warm. Yuk!) If you do the turning now you'll actually slow down the process. It's ready to turn when the center of the pile cools down to the same temperature as the outside layer. Turning at this time introduces air and new material.
The commercial liquid and powder bio activators which contain microbes have decreased in popularity lately. In fact, latest data tell us this is an unnecessary expense and garden soil does just as well. I like to use it. Maybe it is in my mind but I think it helps speed the break-down. Ahem!
The commercial liquid and powder bio activators which contain microbes have decreased in popularity lately. In fact, latest data tell us this is an unnecessary expense and garden soil does just as well. I like to use it. Maybe it is in my mind but I think it helps speed the break-down. Ahem!
Sources
30 to one ratio of carbon to nitrogen
- Rodaler Perennial Encyclopedia
- Ortho's Easy Composting
- Garden Gate Magazine
- Better Homes and Gardens Book
- Spring Hill Nursery Leaflet
- Data from fellow gardeners
- Personal experience
30 to one ratio of carbon to nitrogen
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Composting
Composting is actually the best thing ever!!
I tried to get my husband to compost forever, but he just didn't want to make the effort for fear it would not be right. It turns out that it is quite simple, and nature just takes it's course.
I think the story goes something like this: I just walked out by our shed one day and said, "We're going to compost now." I grabbed some big rocks and put some of our rotting fence that you may have been noticing :') on top of the rocks. Shazam, a compost pit!! (actually, it was more like my husband grabbed the heavy rocks and rotting fence :') We started dumping.
It is so satisfying to see our leftover scraps being turned into rich soil that we will use for our garden next year. It does not stink at all, and saves even more in our trash cans. We hardly have to take our trash out at all, and actually have a difficult time remembering to do so when we really need to.
We keep a bucket, one of those prairie farms ice cream things, under our kitchen sink right by our trash can. Everything that can goes in there. We empty it out once a day, or more. I was very surprised to find how much we were throwing out that is good for soil. It doesn't sit long enough to even start to smell.
Things that can go in compost that you might not be aware of: napkins and paper towels (if using them, but try to stop and go to cloth please :'), hair (if giving children haircuts), dead flowers from arrangements, yucky weeds (if not too aggressive), leaves, and ... can't think of anything else now. Of course, anything food related. As my mother in law says, "give back to the earth what came from the earth."
I don't have the citation, but I did read in an article in Time magazine that our food that goes into tied bags and put on the landfill actually make up a large amount of carbon emissions. So, if you can't afford an electric car right now, that's OK, because you can make a pile of goo just outside your house.
The biggest secret of all... it's fun!!! We get a kick out of chucking things into the woods and providing our local raccoons with tasty first picks. They leave the neighborhood trash cans alone more too.
My husband received a huge pitch fork to turn the pile with. It is soo cool, and did I say fun? I'm looking forward to using our home grown dirt to grow our veggies next season.
Happy composting!!!!
I tried to get my husband to compost forever, but he just didn't want to make the effort for fear it would not be right. It turns out that it is quite simple, and nature just takes it's course.
I think the story goes something like this: I just walked out by our shed one day and said, "We're going to compost now." I grabbed some big rocks and put some of our rotting fence that you may have been noticing :') on top of the rocks. Shazam, a compost pit!! (actually, it was more like my husband grabbed the heavy rocks and rotting fence :') We started dumping.
It is so satisfying to see our leftover scraps being turned into rich soil that we will use for our garden next year. It does not stink at all, and saves even more in our trash cans. We hardly have to take our trash out at all, and actually have a difficult time remembering to do so when we really need to.
We keep a bucket, one of those prairie farms ice cream things, under our kitchen sink right by our trash can. Everything that can goes in there. We empty it out once a day, or more. I was very surprised to find how much we were throwing out that is good for soil. It doesn't sit long enough to even start to smell.
Things that can go in compost that you might not be aware of: napkins and paper towels (if using them, but try to stop and go to cloth please :'), hair (if giving children haircuts), dead flowers from arrangements, yucky weeds (if not too aggressive), leaves, and ... can't think of anything else now. Of course, anything food related. As my mother in law says, "give back to the earth what came from the earth."
I don't have the citation, but I did read in an article in Time magazine that our food that goes into tied bags and put on the landfill actually make up a large amount of carbon emissions. So, if you can't afford an electric car right now, that's OK, because you can make a pile of goo just outside your house.
The biggest secret of all... it's fun!!! We get a kick out of chucking things into the woods and providing our local raccoons with tasty first picks. They leave the neighborhood trash cans alone more too.
My husband received a huge pitch fork to turn the pile with. It is soo cool, and did I say fun? I'm looking forward to using our home grown dirt to grow our veggies next season.
Happy composting!!!!
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