compost heap
Garden waste mound
A compost heap is a pile of organic waste—kitchen scraps, yard trimmings, leaves—left to decompose into nutrient-rich soil amendment.
The heap generates heat as microorganisms break down the material.
Gardeners turn the pile periodically to speed decomposition: The compost heap should be ready by spring.
Also called a compost pile.
Gradual organic breakdown
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
microorganisms · detritivores · decomposers · biodegradation · rot · organic matter · enzymes · mineralization
Protective plant bedding
- soil amendmentSubstance improving dirt quality
- fertilizerSoil nutrient supplement
- vermicompostingDecomposition using earthworms
- wormsLimbless burrowing invertebrates
tumbler · green manure · soil conditioner · horticulture · garden bed · aeration · curing · maturation
Discarded cooking byproducts
- coffee groundsUsed brewing residue
- eggshellsOva's brittle casings
- leavesTree's photosynthetic organs
- banana peelsDiscarded yellow fruit casings
apple cores · tea bags · bread crusts · potato skins · cardboard · newspaper · straw · sawdust
Coarse and unpretentious
Reprocessing used materials
- waste reductionDecreasing material for disposal
- zero-wasteNo garbage produced
- environmentalismAdvocacy for nature protection
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
permaculture · sustainable agriculture · carbon footprint · circular economy · closed-loop · regenerative
decay
Gradual organic breakdown
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
fungi · microorganisms · detritivores · decomposers · biodegradation · rot · organic matter · enzymes · mineralization · carbon cycle
mulch
Protective plant bedding
- soil amendmentSubstance improving dirt quality
- fertilizerSoil nutrient supplement
- vermicompostingDecomposition using earthworms
worms · tumbler · green manure · soil conditioner · horticulture · garden bed · aeration · curing · maturation
kitchen scraps
Discarded cooking byproducts
- coffee groundsUsed brewing residue
- eggshellsOva's brittle casings
- leavesTree's photosynthetic organs
banana peels · apple cores · tea bags · bread crusts · potato skins · cardboard · newspaper · straw · sawdust · wood chips
earthy
Coarse and unpretentious
stench · foul · ripe · sour · fermenting · smelly · rank · dank
recycling
Reprocessing used materials
- waste reductionDecreasing material for disposal
- zero-wasteNo garbage produced
- environmentalismAdvocacy for nature protection
conservation · permaculture · sustainable agriculture · carbon footprint · circular economy · closed-loop · regenerative
- decompositionrot, rotting, autolysis, putrefaction, biodegradation
- farmsteadfarmhouse, barn cat, farm cat, farm dog, farmyard
- Moundsant mound, anthill, burial mound, cairn, dirt pile
- pilespile, stack, mound, accumulation, woodpile
- compostingtumbler, worm bin, vermicomposter, vermicompost, worm farm
- waste pilesgarbage pile, trash pile, rubbish pile, debris pile, scrap pile
compost heaplandfill
Waste burial ground
garbage dump · incinerator · trash heap · rubbish tip · toxic waste site
compost heaplandfill
Waste burial ground
toxic waste dump · toxic dump · garbage patch · chemical runoff · slag heap
heap, compose, composition, heaps, compost, composite, heaped, decompose, heaping