Green Daily

You probably don't think much about your lawnmower and dinner leftovers but yard trimmings and food residuals make up 24 percent of U.S. municipal solid waste. So what's miniscule in thought can actually create a considerable problem for our already overflowing landfills.

You can cut down on this waste by composting your yard trim and some food waste. When made properly, compost can actually suppress plant diseases and pests, reduce the need for chemical fertilizers, and remove solids, oil, grease, and heavy metals from stormwater runoff.

But be careful what you compost: Rotten eggs really aren't good for anything. Learn more about composting, including what to compost and what to leave out, at the EPA's composting page.

Fall is a great time to start a compost pile, because dry leaves are one of the best ingredients. Be sure to shred them first; a leaf blower with mulching capability works well (just use it in reverse, to vacuum up leaves and shred them). One formula for a good compost pile is four parts leaves to one part food scraps.

Sources:

-- "Composting," EPA Web site. Accessed Oct. 14, 2007. http://www.epa.gov/compost

-- "Composting," Green Living Ideas. Accessed Oct. 14, 2007. http://greenlivingideas.com/composting/composting.html

-- "Got Fall Leaves? Make Compost," Down to Earth Blog, Oct. 13, 2006. http://journals.aol.com/downtoearthblog/DowntoEarth/entries/2006/10/13/got-fall-leaves-make-compost/1354

-- "Make Compost, Not Waset," Mindy Pennybacker. The Green Guide, June 1, 1996. http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/25/compost