Troubleshooting Troubleshooting BBACKYARD

ACKYARD
The center of the pile is dry.
This usually means there is not enough water.
Moisten material while turning the pile.
It is taking a lot longer to make compost
than I thought it would.
Your pile can be too dry, not the right mixture
COMPOSTING
of green and brown material, or there is not
The compost is damp & warm in the middle enough air. You will want to add water if it is
but the outside is dry. too dry, add more green material, and turn
more frequently. Another good source to keep
The compost pile is too small. Collect more
your compost material aerated is to add worms.
material (green & brown) and mix the new
Worms are a great source of animal life that
material with the existing pile. You need at
is welcomed in your compost pile.
least one cubic yard (3’ x’ 3’ x 3’) to get the
proper results.
To have a good compost pile, remember to
not put the following materials in your bin.

OILS
MEAT
BONES
PET WASTE
CRABGRASS
The compost pile is damp and sweet
smelling, but it will not heat up.
This problem usually means that there is a
lack of nitrogen. The solution is to add more
To learn even more about composting attend
green material such as fresh grass clippings,
one of the City of Chandler’s Backyard
fruits or vegetables.
Composting Workshops. The workshops are
held throughout the year and are free to
There are flies around and in my compost
residents. For more information about the
pile.
next workshop, call Solid Waste Services
Most of the flies in and around a compost at 480-782-3510.
pile are fruit flies, which are generally harm-
less. If there are house flies around your bin
CITY OF CHANDLER
then most likely you have added meat or other SOLID WASTE SERVICES
rancid food materials to your pile. Cover the
food with a thin layer of soil, grass, or leaves.
Avoid adding meat or dairy products to your
compost pile.
 What is Compost? Different Methods Getting Started
Place a layer of leaves or woody material in
Composting can be very simple with very little
Compost is a soil conditioner. Composting is the bottom of the container. This will help
effort. Even if mistakes are made you can still
a process of planned and managed decompo- add beneficial bacteria to the pile.
end up with good compost for your soil.
sition that helps to return organic food waste Add a layer of grass clippings; cover clippings
The simple process, explained here, will give you
and yard waste back into a rich organic soil. with a thin layer of soil or composted material.
compost in about 2 to 6 months depending on As you add materials to your composter over
frequently the pile is turned and if adequate time, alternate layers of brown and green
Approximately 34% of the solid waste gen-
moisture levels are maintained. materials.
erated by a Chandler resident is yard waste.
This includes mostly grass, yard, and tree Use a shovel, spading fork, or rake to turn and
trimmings. Composting is a useful way for rotate your composting mixture.
residents to reduce this type of waste Periodically add brown & green materials.
from going to the landfill. Compost also Check the composting material when mixing
to be sure it is moist and warm.
improves soil aeration, helps to retain
If it appears to be dry or cool, add water.
water and nutrients, which in turn saves water.
Mix pile at least once a week.
Compost is done when dark brown, crumbly,
Making Good Compost cool, and ingredients are no longer recogniz-
able.

A properly constructed compost pile repre-

sents an efficient biological and ecological
system. It involves a wide variety of insects Troubleshooting
that surface in response to changes in the Odors are coming from my pile.
nutritional and environmental conditions of
the pile.
Getting Started
There are several reasons why this could be
Composting is simple and requires very little happening.
Providing adequate sources of carbon (brown space in your backyard. Below is a list of what
1. The pile is too wet. In this case add fresh
material) and nitrogen (green material) is is needed to get started:
dry material and turn to mix thoroughly.
important since these elements are food for Small area in your backyard to set up the
the microorganisms. Microorganisms are compost site. 2. Too much green material in your pile can
needed in a compost pile to help with the Compost container - upon request, Solid Waste cause odors. Add more brown dry material
decomposition. Services will provide a free composter or you and mix thoroughly. A ready source of brown
can purchase a composter at a home and garden material is shredded newspaper or junk mail.
store.
3. Insufficient air in your pile is also another
Shovel, spading fork or rake - (tools you use for
factor in odors. Just turn the pile or bin and
turning and rotating your composting material.
mix the compost materials thoroughly.
Sprinkling can, sprayer nozzle, and water hose -
used for keeping the composting material moist.
4. Sometimes the material in the pile becomes
Pruners for chopping green material, anvil pruners
too compact. Loosen the compost by mixing
for chopping wood material, chipper (optional,
or turning.
but helpful to breakdown large yard waste)