Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Home Composting for Zero Waste
(Everything You Wanted to Know about Composting but Were Afraid to Ask)
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Suggested audience: children and families, suitable for all ages
Home composting is easier than people might think. Most of the work is done by nature's composting work force (decomposers), and all we have to do is feed them our food scraps and yard waste, give them air, water, and a place to live, and they'll do the work of converting our "garbage" into "gold" for our gardens - black gold. Compost restores life to soil and helps plants thrive.
You can singlehandedly reduce your trash to practically zero if you compost, reduce, reuse, and recycle!
The slides from the presentation are available here:
https://www.mass.gov/doc/presentation-home-composting-for-zero-waste/download
Below are additional links that were included or referenced in the presentation and may be helpful for your composting efforts or for educating others about composting:
CT DEEP Home Composting Turning Your Spoils to Soil video: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Waste-Management-and-Disposal/Organics-Recycling/Compost-Video-Downloads#Home
MassDEP's Home Composting & Green Landscaping resources:
https://www.mass.gov/lists/home-composting-green-landscaping#backyard-composting-
MassDEP Infographic Why Should I Compost?: https://www.mass.gov/doc/infographic-why-should-i-compost/download
Home Composting Webinar, 5/4/20: Video: Turn Garbage into Gold Composting at Home
Home Composting brochure: https://www.mass.gov/doc/home-composting-tips-a-guide-to-composting-yard-food-waste/download
Composting is Easy poster/flyer: https://www.mass.gov/doc/poster-composting-is-easy/download
Compost Food Web poster/flyer: https://www.thegreenteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Compost-Food-Web-Poster.pdf
Don't Trash Grass brochure: https://www.mass.gov/doc/dont-trash-grass/download
List of compost bin distribution programs: https://www.mass.gov/doc/list-of-massachusetts-compost-bin-distribution-programs/download
A source of compost bins for residents whose towns don't offer them is Boston Building Resources: https://www.bostonbuildingresources.com/weatherization-conservation
Vermicomposting (Worm composting) fact sheet: https://www.mass.gov/doc/massdep-fact-sheet-vermicomposting-indoor-composting-with-worms/download
How to Control Fruit Flies and Fungus Gnats: https://www.mass.gov/doc/massdep-fact-sheet-how-to-control-fruit-flies-fungus-gnats/download
MassDEP Home Composting Workshops & Demonstrations
Home Composting presentation outline and script for teaching: https://www.mass.gov/doc/teaching-residents-about-composting-outline-talking-points/download
Lawns & Landscapes in Your Watershed: https://www.mass.gov/guides/lawns-and-landscapes-in-your-watershed
Resources for teachers and schools: https://thegreenteam.org/