Waste Management & Recycling Program
Composting at Home
What is
composting?
Composting is the decomposition of organic
materials (plants, vegetable matter, grass, leaves, etc.)
into a nutrient-rich soil-like material called compost.
Composting can be done on a small scale (in your backyard)
or a large scale (at a municipal level).
Why should I compost?
Composting is nature's way of recycling.
When you compost, you convert vegetable scraps, leaves,
grass clippings and other materials into a useful soil builder.
You can use finished compost in your garden and around shrubs
or other plants. Composting also reduces the amount of materials
that enter the waste stream.
How do I get started?
If you would like to start composting in
your backyard, please contact your local Cooperative Extension
office for a free brochure. If you are a municipality interested
in composting please contact us.
What is vermi-composting?
Vermi-composting is the process of composting
food waste with worms, most often red wiggler worms.
Vermi-composting
can be done indoors using a small amount of space, making
it a great option for classrooms, offices, and apartments.
For more information on vermi-composting, check out our
fact sheet on Composting with Worms (PDF
19KB).
Where can I find
more information?
-
See
Our Composting Links!
-
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Service offers compost assistance through their respective
county offices. For a list of the offices, visit www.umext.maine.edu
- Get free publications from us:
- 'Composting Seafood Processing
Residuals in Maine' This document is is a three
ring binder with 47 pages. It is available by contacting us.
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- 'A Community Guide to Composting
Leaves and Yard Trimmings in Maine' This document
is a three ring binder with 50 pages. It is available
by contacting us.
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- 'Maine Compost Initiative 2004.
Residual Food Recycling.' This document is is
a three ring binder with 52 pages It is available
by contacting us.
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