Waste Policy Forum
Municipal Solid Waste

Composting

Highlighted Links

Composting, Yard Trimming, & Municipal Solid Waste (PDF) (151pp, 6.7M, About PDF)

Backyard Composting Made Easy Brochure (PDF) | en Español (2pp, 285K)

Another form of recycling is composting-the controlled aerobic biological decomposition of organic matter, such as food scraps and plant matter, into humus, a soil-like material. Compost acts as a natural fertilizer by providing nutrients to the soil, increasing beneficial soil organisms, and suppressing certain plant diseases, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Organic materials comprise a large portion of the solid waste stream, particularly in communities that rely heavily on tourism. Composting can be particularly helpful to communities managing their waste as well as improving their environmental stewardship.

View links and publications on composting by topic.

General Resources
Publications
Organizations
Outreach
State Programs
Recursos Españoles

General Resources

Composting
Provides basic information, information about regional and state composting programs, a description of what materials are good for composting, laws/statutes, environmental benefits, science and technology, and publications.

Composting, Yard Trimming, and Municipal Solid Waste (PDF) (151pp, 6.7M, About PDF)
Examines planning, designing, and operating composting facilities. It also discusses basic composting principles, collection methods, processing methods, technologies, odor control, environmental, health, and safety concerns, state legislation and initiatives, potential end-users, product quality and marketing, community involvement, and economics.

Benefits of Composting
Earth911. Learn the benefits of using compost.

Composting with Worms
Earth911. Learn how to compost with worms.

Publications

Resource Recycling
View North America's Recycling and Composting Journal.

BioCycle
Provides information on composting, organic recycling and renewable energy.

Organizations

US Composting Council
The USCC is a national, non-profit trade and professional organization promoting the recycling of organic materials through composting. The USCC is the only national organization committed to the advancement of the composting industry.

Outreach

Backyard Composting Made Easy Brochure (PDF) (2 pp, 285K)

Top of page

State Programs

All links in this section exit EPA.

Organics: Composting State Contacts
US EPA. Provides state contacts for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Islands.

California

California Integrated Waste Management Board

Organic Materials Management
Provides information on composting, mulch, grasscycling, and other topics relating to the management and use of organic resources.

CIWMB: Organic Materials Management Site Index

Organic Materials Management CIWMB Organics Publications

New Mexico

New Mexico Environment Department: Compost and Mulch
Provides information on New Mexico compost facilities, compost testing laboratories, organics recycling contacts, NMORO compost mix calculation resources, nitrogen/carbon weights of specific materials, NMRC/NMORO compost mixture calculation, worksheet, golf course use of compost and more.