Composting 101

Composting is the controlled decomposition of organic materials, such as leaves, grass, and food scraps. The result of this decomposition process is compost, a crumbly, earthy-smelling, soil-like material which is great for your garden and reduces the amount of waste you send to landfills. Yard trimmings and food scraps make up about 25 percent of the waste U.S. households generate all of which can be composted. It’s a great thing to do for the planet as well as for your family.

Wet gDiapers Flushables (not the poopy ones, please), are ideal material for compost piles, providing a rich source of nitrogen and organic matter. Independent research has shown that wet gDiapers flushable refills will break down in 50 – 150 days. The outer cellulose based cover and inner fluff pulp provide organic matter, while the SAP provides the ‘water storing granules’. You will find SAP in the more expensive potting compost at your local plant nursery¹, so by adding your baby’s wet only Flushable to your home compost (or worm farm) you are adding your own free supply of ‘water storing granules’. Your baby’s urine is the main source of nitrogen, an essential element for growing plants and is completely safe for garden use.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

1) Human faeces (poo) should NEVER be composted at home as they can contain bacteria and viruses that may survive the composting process and present human and animal health risks. Poopy Flushables should only be disposed of in the toilet where proper treatment can be done in your local sewage treatment or septic system.

2)  If you use a diaper cream that contains zinc: Because zinc is a heavy metal, flushables that have come in contact with zinc-based creams should not be composted.

3) For curbside composting, please check with your local sanitation department for guidelines before putting flushables in your curbside bin.

Home composting is not difficult but does take a bit of education to learn to do properly. Get started, either with a traditional compost pile or vermicomposting, using worms. Both can be easily and cheaply done in your own garden

How to Compost Links: (there are plenty more)
The Compost Resource
Master Composter
Stewardship Gardening
Urban Composting
Vermi Technology Unlimited (worm composting)
Wikipedia Compost pages

For additional information the EPA has developed a list of compost-related publications.

Composting Facts and Figures

• Red wigglers (i.e., the worms used in vermicomposting) eat their weight in organic matter each day.
• Almost 60 percent of the municipal solid waste produced in the United States (including paper) is compostable material.
• There are more than 3200 yard trimmings composting facilities nationwide.

What to Put in the Mix
These are some items that can be put in a composting bin. Some food products should not be included because they can attract pests or compromise the quality of the compost. This list is not meant to be all inclusive.