OSCEOLA-LAKE CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Recycling & Composting

Recycling

Remember the Three R's

REDUCE

REUSE

RECYCLE

Look for these symbols when you shop!

Recyclable Materials Symbol:
Container or package is potentially recyclable.

Recycled Content Symbol:
Container made from recycled materials.

REDUCE

Reduce means to use less and make less garbage.

That means less garbage goes to the landfills.

Think of some ways that you can reduce trash....

Use both sides of the paper when you write or print.

When shopping select products that produce the least amount of waste.

Ask yourself:

  1. How much do I need?
  2. Are my purchases long-lasting and reusable?
  3. Is the product package recyclable?
  4. Is the product or its packaging made from recycled materials?
  5. Do I buy the products with the least amount of packaging?

REUSE

                   You can help protect the environment from pollution if you choose items you can reuse over and over again instead of items you throw away after one use.

Can you name items that can be reused?

Thermos (instead of juice box)
Canvas bag (instead of paper bag)
Water bottle (can be refilled)
Cloth rag (instead of paper towel)
Lunch box (instead of paper bag)
Plastic container (instead of plastic bag)
Cloth napkins (instead of paper napkins)

Use silverware, or wash and reuse plastic knives, forks, and spoons.
Instead of paper use reusable glasses, cups, plates, and bowls.

RECYCLE

Recycling helps protect the environment and save our natural resources.

Studies show that each person makes about 4 pounds of waste each day consisting of:

31.3% Paper (48.9 Million Tons)
10.4% Yard Waste (16.2 Million Tons)
13% Plastics (20.4 Million Tons)
6.4% Metals (10.1 Million Tons)
7% Wood (11.0 Million Tons)
13.6% Food Waste (21.3 Million Tons)
5.8% Glass (9.1 Million Tons)
12.3% Other (19.3 Million Tons)

For more information on recycling:

Planet Pals - Recycling Facts
Planet Pals - Earth Matters
Michigan Recycles Aerosols
Peanut HotLine

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Want to know what to do with your spent ink jet cartridges?

Log on to www.aaaenvironmentalinc.com or call 1-847-583-1215.

You can pick up the postage paid envelopes at the Osceola-Lake Conservation District Office at 138 W. Upton, Suite #2, Reed City, MI 49677 or call us at (231) 832-2950.

Composting

What is Composting?

Composting is-the process of taking natures waste and turning it into soil.

"NATURES WAY OF RECYCLING"

Why Compost?

The waste that is filling up our nation's landfill sites becomes potentially toxic, and sooner or later may release polluting gases, mainly methane, which is responsible for the greenhouse effect.

Home composting is a positive solution to our landfill sites' congestion; it allows waste recycling by converting it into a readily usable non-chemical resource, and produces an excellent soil amendment for gardens.

Compost can save you money:

Reduces trash
Provides free soil amendment
Retains soil moisture-saving on water bills

Compost can help your garden:

Feeds the soil
Prevents soil erosion
Improves yields of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs
Reduces amount of weeds

Compost can improve our environment:

Turns waste into a valuable resource
Saves limited landfill space
Recycles nutrients back into the soil

Compost Creatures

Worms and insects work through leaves, grass, and other organic materials, creating air shafts and rick worm castings.
Bacteria and fungi create heat as they digest these materials.
Nature's helpers continually mix organic matter and release nutrients so that plants can absorb them again.

What to Compost

YES

 

Weeds

Garden Waste

Tea Leaves

 

Bread

Grass Clippings (not wet)

Vegetables

 

Coffee Grounds (with filters)

Leaves

Wood Ash

 

Egg Shells (crushed)

Shredded Paper

Wood Chips (just a little)

 

Evergreen needles and pine cones (just a little)

Sawdust

Shredded Cardboard

 

Fruit, peels and rinds

Straw

Soft Plant Stems

 

What NOT to Compost

NO

 

Butter

Oils

 

Bones

Plastics

 

Pet Waste

Metals

 

Cheese

Glass

 

Chicken

Stone

 

Fish

Dairy

 

Meat Scraps

 

 

Three main components of a good compost pile:

AIR (Oxygen)
WATER (Moisture)
HEAT (Temperature)

Compost Recipe:

One layer of leaves
One layer of grass clippings
One layer of manure
One layer of soil
*Place in compost bin in order listed.
*Add water with each layer.
*Stir

Compost Happens

Compost happens when air, water, and heat aided by macro organisms (earthworms, insects) and microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, microbes) decompose the ingredients (waste) that you have added to your pile.

Worms Eat My Garbage

(For those who don't need or can't have a larger compost pile)

What is Worm Composting?

Worms recycle food waste into rich fertilizer for your house plants or garden. Vermicomposting (composting with worms) can be done indoors or outdoors.

What do I need?

What do I do?

Bury your organic kitchen waste in the worm bin. Bacteria and other organisms break it down and worms eat the food waste, bedding, and bacteria. They turn it all into humus-- nutrient-rich food for growing healthy plants.

What can I feed my worms?

Banana peels, apple cores, potato peels, coffee grounds, tea bags, and crushed eggshells. Almost any leftovers except meats, cheeses, or sauces will delight worms. Bury the food under the bedding to prevent fruit flies. Rotate sites at each feeding.

Isn't it easier just to throw my garbage away?

Food scraps are a usable resource. It takes at least 8 gallons of water to rinse 1 pound of scraps down an in-sink garbage disposal. That water must then be treated with chemicals to make it usable again.
If food scraps are dumped in a landfill, they are covered and are of no use to anyone. Plus they take up valuable landfill space which is expensive to use and which wastes resources.

Doesn't it smell?

Odor is minimal if you don't overload the system. Worms in a 19" x 16" x 12" bin can process 2-3 pounds of garbage a week. Capacity of a 20" x 24" x 12" bin is up to 5 pounds of garbage a week.

How long before I have worm castings to feed my plants?

Plan on about six month from the time you set up your bin. You will bury garbage every week. As the worms process the garbage and bedding, the contents of the bin will turn dark brown. You can then harvest the vermicompost (compost produced through the action of worms) in a variety of ways to use on your plants and in your garden.

Do I have to keep buying new worms?

If you treat them right they will reproduce. You will find cocoons in your bin from which baby worms will hatch. After several months, you may have twice as many worms. You can use them to go fishing, or help a neighbor set up a bin, or just leave them in your bin. Overpopulation will not be a problem.

Do people really do this?

Worm composting is becoming more and more popular. It is the only way to recycle on-site, in your home. You place food waste in your bin. The worms turn it into plant food. You use the plant food to grow vegetables in your garden, or attractive flowers to delight your senses. If you compost your garbage with worms, you help the environment.

What type of worm do I need?

Redworms (also known as "red wigglers". These worms process large amounts of organic material in their natural habitats of manure, compost piles, or decaying leaves. They are fast producers and tolerate a large range of temperatures, acidity, and moisture conditions. They are tough worms and withstand handling well.

Your Worm's Needs

Temperature

They feed most rapidly and convert waste best at temperatures between 59-77 degrees F (15-25 degrees C)
Redworms tolerate a wide range of temperatures, but below freezing temperatures may kill them.

Moisture

All worms need moisture. They "breathe" through their skin, which must be moist for exchange of air and excretion of waste to take place. Too much moisture, present as water standing in the bin, can reduce available oxygen and cause worms to "drown".

Acidity

Slightly acid conditions are best. The 14-point scale for determining degree of acidity is called pH.
Most suitable for redworms is pH5-pH9 (neutral), neither acid nor alkaline.
Think of it as neither too sweet nor too sour.

Ventilation

Just like humans, worms need air to live. Don't wrap your bin in plastic and be sure to leave air holes.

Why have worms eat your garbage?

Help spread the worm!

For information about "Worm Composting" (Vermicomposting) check out the following sites:

Worm Woman
Worm World

More information on Composting:

Soil Foodweb Incorporated
Urban Home Composting
Soil Soup Inc.
Composting in Michigan

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Contact Us:

138 W. Upton, Suite #2
Reed City, MI 49677
Web Designer: Kathy Fischer kathy.fischer@mi.nacdnet.net
Phone (231) 832-2950
Fax (231) 832-2683