Composting at home is a great way to make your own free compost and reduce the amount of waste you send to the landfill since about 25% of waste is food.

NC State University Cooperative Extension is a premier resource for composting how-to’s. Visit their website for everything you need to get started including tools needed, different types of compost bins, what to compost, what not to compost, and troubleshooting guides- https://composting.ces.ncsu.edu/home-composting/

Here are a few resources for back yard composting:

• A two-page simplified version of NC Cooperative Extension Backyard Composting of Yard, Garden, and Food Discards guide.
• A basic guide from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
• Trouble shooting guide from NC Cooperative Extension.

Compost Bins for Sale

Solid Waste & Recycling sells backyard compost bins for $45 each (pictured below). Backyard compost bins can be purchased at the Main Facility, Monday-Friday from 7 am to 4 pm. The Main Facility is located at 28 County Services Road Pittsboro (6 miles west of Pittsboro). We can accept cash, check, or debit/credit card. There is a 3% fee to use a card.

The compost bins we currently have are the EnviroWorld FreeGarden EARTH. They are 33 inches high, 31 inches wide (at the bottom), and 20.25 inches wide at the top. They are also made from 100% recycled plastic.

We also sell kitchen collectors to put on your counter to collect your food in until you take it out to the compost bin. They are $5 each and pictured below.

For more information about the compost bin can be found at EnviroWorld’s website. 

Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting is a method of composting that relies on earthworms and microorganisms. And you can keep your worm bin inside! So perfect for apartments or people who want to compost but don’t want to have a compost bin in their yard.

Learn all about vermicomposting at worms.ncsu.edu. Here are a few resources for vermicomposting:

• NC Cooperative Extension guide to setting up a worm bin.
• Troubleshooting guide from NC Cooperative Extension.

Chatham County Solid Waste & Recycling offers composting classes a couple times a year. Classes will be listed here when information is available.

Chatham County Cooperative Extension also has composting classes throughout the year. SW&R and Cooperative Extension also pair up on classes from time-to-time. To learn more about the classes offered by Cooperative Extension, visit their website at https://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu/

If you would like to schedule a composting class at your church, club, neighborhood, etc. please contact Shannon Culpepper, Recycling and Education Specialist at shannon.culpepper@chathamcountync.gov or 919-545-7874.