Are you interested in composting, but unsure where to start? We’ve got the dirt on how you can compost from home + around the community.
Composting 101
Composting is the process of decomposing organic matter like leaves, food scraps, and yard trimmings. The result is a dark, nutrient-heavy material, like soil, that you can use to enrich your lawn or garden.
How do you get started?
Find a dry and shady spot in your backyard to build your compost pile or shop at a local hardware or gardening center for a compost bin that suits your needs. Be patient — composting can take several months.
Can you compost without a backyard?
Absolutely. If you’d like to compost but don’t have the space, you can drop off compost materials with the Richmond Compost Initiative. The city has free compost drop-off sites at libraries and community gardens around town. Look for purple bins with green lids labeled “Compost Only.”
What can you compost?
Compost should be a blend of waste containing nitrogen (green waste) and carbon (brown waste).
✅ Green: fruits, vegetables, bread, coffee grounds + filters, grass clippings, and tea bags
✅ Brown: dryer lint, egg shells, nut shells, sawdust, hay, leaves, shredded paper, and cardboard
What can’t you compost?
❌ Inorganic materials: metal, plastic, produce stickers, treated wood
❌ Animal products: dairy, meat, bones, pet feces
Remember this: If it didn’t grow, it can’t go.
How do you use compost?
Composting is good for the soul… and the soil. Make it into mulch, mix it into your flower and vegetable beds, or spread it over your lawn. No garden? No problem. Mix that compost into your potting soil to give indoor plants a boost.
