Yard waste is often simply thrown out or otherwise discarded without a second thought. Many communities around the country, though, have started curbside pickup to take yard waste and recycle it. Recycling yard waste is actually beneficial to everyone. It can be reused to help nurture the soil. Recycling is something that you can do easily without having to pay to have it hauled away.

Composting

Composting is a term that most people have likely heard. However, there is often some misunderstanding about composting. Making a compost bin is actually quite easy and does not require a lot of work. It is a matter of simply throwing waste into a pile or bin and letting nature take its course.

A compost bin or heap can be something you build at your own home and use to benefit your garden or your yard. Compost is very rich in nutrients. It can be used in landscaping to help create an ideal growing location for plants, trees and shrubs.

When you build a compost bin or heap, you can save a lot of money. You will not have to pay to have it hauled away and you will have your own fertilizer right on hand when you need it.

Basics of Composting

Creating a compost heap as simple as you want it to be. All you really need is organic material that you pile up and occasionally turn. Something as simple as grass and leaves will work because they provide the needed carbon and nitrogen sources. You should turn it about once a month. However, if you do something this simple it can take about a year for you to get actual, usable compost.

If you want a quicker turn around then you will need to turn it more often and put in a little more work. You can add a variety of yard waste and other waste items to your composite heap. You should stick with organic, plant based materials. Things like vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags and newspaper can go into the heap. Avoid anything that is animal based. Meat scraps or oils would not be a good choice to throw in the compost heap. Giving it a little more attention will help you get usable compost in about three months.

To help your compost heap, you should keep it moist. This may require watering on occasion when the weather is very hot and dry. Make sure that it is not near any trees or other wood items as it will break those items down, too. Remember, that the more you turn the compost, the faster it will break down. It will be ready to use when it is dark in color and very crumbly.

A compost heap is a great way to recycle your yard waste and put it to good use. Returning it to the earth to allow it to nourish new plant growth is the natural thing to do. There is no need to have it hauled away when you can recycle it for free right at home.