Reduce Waste and Global Warming!
Food scraps emit global warming gases as they decompose in a landfill. In fact, every ton of food scraps kept out of the landfill — through composting or food scrap digesters like Green Cones– keeps the equivalent of 6 tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere!
Composting
Compost is simply organic material that has rotted to the point where plants can use the nutrients. Home composting is a way to manage this process so that it is faster and more convenient.
Compost is a great soil amendment. It improves the structure and fertility of garden soil, adds nutrients and helps to prevent plant diseases. It’s also simple to make, requiring just two things: a bin of some sort to hold the ingredients and the compost ingredients themselves.
To Help You Get Started!
The District offers a free how-to compost booklet called The Dirt on Composting. It covers all you need to know for great home composting results, including ingredient mixes, compost bins and pile systems you can make yourself.
- Call the office or complete our publication order form to request a printed copy.
- You can also access The Dirt on Composting in PDF format.
Compost Bins
Most farm and garden stores sell compost bins, and those that don’t will usually be able to order one for you. You can also build your own, using tips from The Dirt on Composting or plans you can find online. We’ve included some plans here for you to download.
Compost Bin Plans
- Rotating Barrel (189kb PDF)- for smaller composting operations
- Stationary Wood and Wire 3-Bin System (200kb PDF) – good for large amounts of yard and kitchen wastes in a short period of time
- Portable Wood and Wire (210kb PDF) -can be moved easily or used as a stationary unit
- Drum Bins, Cement Block Bins, and Snow Fence Bins (157kb PDF) – inexpensive and easy to set up
Green Cone Food Scrap Digesters
The Green Cone is an in-ground digester that breaks down all food scraps-including meat, fish, dairy, and bones. Green Cones are sited in yards and gardens, even right next to the house. They don’t require turning or special material combinations to work.
The bottom part of the cone is buried in the ground, enabling micro-organisms and insects in the soil to break down the food scraps underground. The sun heats up the top part of the cone, helping to speed up the decomposition process. Unlike compost bins, the cones do not produce compost. Rather, the nutrients are released into the soil during decomposition, nourishing plants near the cone.
Once installed, you simply open the lid, add food scraps, and close the lid. That’s it! A sunny location and good or modified drainage are also critical to the process. Decomposition quickens during warm weather and slows during cold weather. But since much of the material is underground, it never stops altogether — even in central VT!
The District is selling Green Cones through the office; the cost of each cone is $72.50 (includes tax). Please call the District office at 802-229-9383 ext.111 to arrange to purchase your cone!
