Fall is the Perfect Time to Start Composting

The weather is getting cooler in many parts of the country, and that means the tree leaves will start to turn yellow, orange, and brown. They will fall off the trees soon, causing some homeowners to groan, but others will rejoice because dry leaves are perfect to throw on top of that compost pile! You can also put anything else that’s organic. Grass clippings, yard waste and raw food scraps are good for your compost pile too. Just think of all those holiday dinners coming your way. By composting, you’ll greatly reduce the amount of food waste during all that prep work. Did you know that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that yard and food waste make up 24 percent of solid waste in landfills? That’s almost a quarter of what’s in landfills. You can do your part in reducing the amount of waste in landfills by starting a compost pile.

If you’re still unsure about composting, just take a look at this list of some of the many things you can throw in your compost pile:

Old/moldy vegetables
Weeds
Dead flowers
Stale bread
Vegetable and fruit waste (like peels & ends)
Holiday greenery
Egg shells
Shredded newspaper (but no glossy magazines)
Twigs and small branches
Pine cones
Wrapping paper tubes
Paper towels
Napkins
Coffee filters
Cardboard (in small pieces)
Brown paper bags
Wood chips
Coffee grounds
Tea bags (staple removed)

Almost everyone has at least a few of these items that they usually throw into their trash. These are all items that can be safely composted. When planting season comes around next year, it’ll be ready to add to the soil for a nutrient-rich mix. What are you waiting for? Start raking those dry leaves and get started!