Start Composting -- Part 1, Household Waste Reduction

A good way to reduce your household waste is to start composting. You can stop throwing away all your yard waste (except for plastic, large pieces of wood, any weeds that have gone to seed, and some noxious weeds) and kitchen scraps (teabags, coffee grounds, crushed eggshells, vegetable and fruit leftovers).

For the simplest method, all you need is some space and a pitchfork. Pile up the waste, in layers 6 inches deep or less, and turn once a week. A separate pile for new waste works well. Or you can:

• Layer the waste in a trash can with drainage holes at the bottom. Turn the can over and over once a week;
• Build a bin;
• Get ambitious and build a 3-bin compost frame. Bin #1 is for new waste, bin #2 is for composting waste, bin #3 is for finished compost;
• Buy a bin or tumbler. There are lots on the market, especially from mail-order and Internet sources.