Non-Food Composting

Those trying their hand at composting for the first time often start with kitchen food scraps. But there are other organic materials that can be composted and can be found in the yard, field and barn.

Non-food compostables

• Straw, hay, wood chips, sawdust, paper, cardboard, grass clippings, yard trimmings and manure are all compostable materials. Even hair and nail clippings can be composted. In states or districts that have restrictions on outdoor food composting, these items (except for the manure) are generally accepted.

Methods

• Dry compostable items (such as wood products and dry plant material) have high carbon content and are known as brown materials. Green (or living and non-woody) plant material and manures have high nitrogen content and are known as green materials. Layer brown and green evenly to keep the compost pile smell at a minimum. If you still wish to compost food wastes, consider composting with a worm bin (vermicomposting).

Benefits

• Non-food compostables don't attract vermin, pets and bears to the degree that food scraps do. Therefore, they often need less protective barriers and do not need to be buried. To play it safe, always at least cover compost piles within access of small children and pets, and keep manure composts away from water sources.