Composting is easier than you think! Instead of purchasing fancy soil for your garden and flower beds, why not start your own compost in your backyard?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 20 to 30 percent of what a household throws away can be composted. This means it’s not only better for your garden and the planet, it also saves you money. Composting is a form of recycling by putting nutrients back into the soil instead of in a landfill, leading to the creation of excess methane emissions. A compost doesn’t have to be a set size, so it is easy to make one for any space.

Whether you’re composting in a pile, a bin, or in a small container under the kitchen sink, the ingredients will be the same. Add equal parts of brown and green material, such as dead leaves, newspaper strips, grass clippings, vegetable waste, fruit scraps, and even coffee grounds to get a compost started.

Adding water helps everything break down, and moving the material around creates air pockets to speed up the composting process. The EPA offers detailed information about how to start and maintain a compost anywhere in your home or backyard.

Learn About Composting Day is May 29, get started with these items from our collection. Your BCLS library card provides access to books and DVDs about composting for the whole family: