"Bring nature's recycling center to your home"

The transportation and disposal of yard waste and kitchen scraps consumes valuable resources and landfill space. Backyard composting is a simple way to help reduce these impacts. The City's Solid Waste Management Division can get you started with the BioStack Home Composter, a popular bin that adds convenience and speeds the composting process [sold to residents for $25 apiece (plus tax)]. Included with the bin is a how-to booklet. 

Bin sales
BioStack Home Composter + book . . . . . $27.06
(Make checks payable to: City Of Santa Monica)

Pick-up Location:
Solid Waste Management Division  Map
2500 Michigan Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Phone: (310) 458-2223
E-mail: solid.waste@smgov.net

Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 
Fridays: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Backyard Composting Tips

1.Setting up the backyard compost bin

• place bin on dirt or grass
• place bin in shade if possible

2. Maintaining the compost pile

• Materials should be broken down or "size-reduced" as much as possible before added to the pile
• Maintain a 50/50 mixture of "greens" and "browns"
  • "Greens" are normally green in color, high in moisture and nitrogen content. Examples include freshly cut grass, hedge trimmings, fruit and vegetable scraps, animal manures.
  • "Browns" are normally brown in color, low in moisture content and high in carbon content. Examples include dried leaves, dried grass clippings, straw, paper, sawdust, shredded twigs, branches.
• Periodically mix materials in the pile
• Keep moisture level equal to a wrung-out sponge
• If kitchen scraps are used, bury them inside pile

3. Unacceptable materials

• Fatty food scraps including meat and cheese
• Large materials that have not been size-reduced
• Pine needles, ivy, palm fronds, waste from meat-eating animals

4. Respect the workers in the pile

• Microscopic organisms, ants, sow bugs, and worms are a few of the many workers converting organic material to compost
• Avoid the "ick" mentality - when you see bugs, insect larvae, worms, etc., don't assume they are bad; in a reality these are the organisms that are breaking down the material into compost

5. Harvesting and using compost

• Finished compost is ready for use within six weeks to four months
• Compost is finished when material is dark brown and is not recognizable from its original state
• Sifting finished compost will remove any large pieces that have not broken down; larger materials can be placed back inside the bin

6. Troubleshooting

• Pile won't break down: check for moisture content and add water if pile is too dry; be sure materials have been properly size-reduced
• Pile smells bad: may have too much greenery and moisture; add brown materials and let dry out; may have fatty foods in pile

For more information visit: www.smartgardening.com