composting
Soil from scraps
Composting is the process of breaking down organic waste—food scraps, leaves, grass clippings—into nutrient-rich soil amendment.
Bacteria, fungi, and invertebrates do the work; you provide the raw material and conditions.
The verb compost means to add material to a compost pile or to undergo this decomposition: We compost our kitchen scraps.
The leaves will compost over winter.
Microbial breakdown of organics
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- rotOrganic breakdown process
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
bacteria · fungi · microorganisms · earthworms · decomposers · aerobic · anaerobic · thermophilic
Change to official text
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
- nutrientsVital dietary substances
- nitrogenElement seven, colorless gas
- phosphorusGlow-in-dark element
potassium · fertility · structure · aeration · drainage · organic matter · micronutrients · pH balance
Decomposition using earthworms
- tumblerFlat-bottomed drinking vessel
- binStorage or disposal vessel
- pileAccumulated mass of objects
- heapJumbled collection of items
green waste · kitchen scraps · leaf mold · manure · coffee grounds · eggshells · turning · curing
Leafy edible plants
- brownsCooks until golden
- kitchen scrapsDiscarded cooking byproducts
- vegetable scrapsDiscarded plant food parts
- coffee groundsUsed brewing residue
eggshells · leaves · cardboard · newspaper · straw · sawdust · wood chips · manure
No garbage produced
- recyclingReprocessing used materials
- carbon footprintTotal greenhouse gases produced
- circular economyRegenerative resource management model
- waste reductionDecreasing material for disposal
ecofriendly · regenerative · permaculture · environmental · biodegradable · organic · green living · soil health
biodegradation
Microbial breakdown of organics
humus · bacteria · fungi · microorganisms · earthworms · decomposers · aerobic · anaerobic · thermophilic · carbon
amendment
Change to official text
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
- nutrientsVital dietary substances
- nitrogenElement seven, colorless gas
phosphorus · potassium · fertility · structure · aeration · drainage · organic matter · micronutrients · pH balance · bioavailability
vermicomposting
Decomposition using earthworms
heap · green waste · kitchen scraps · leaf mold · manure · coffee grounds · eggshells · turning · curing · garden beds
greens
Leafy edible plants
- brownsCooks until golden
- kitchen scrapsDiscarded cooking byproducts
- vegetable scrapsDiscarded plant food parts
coffee grounds · eggshells · leaves · cardboard · newspaper · straw · sawdust · wood chips · manure · food waste
zero-waste
No garbage produced
- recyclingReprocessing used materials
- carbon footprintTotal greenhouse gases produced
- circular economyRegenerative resource management model
waste reduction · ecofriendly · regenerative · permaculture · environmental · biodegradable · organic · green living · soil health · food rescue
- plant carewatering, fertilizing, fertilizer, pruning, transplanting
- waste managementwaste, trash, garbage, rubbish, refuse
- eco actionsrecycling, tree planting, water conservation, energy saving, waste reduction
- gardening tipsgardening tips, planting calendar, planting dates, pruning techniques, watering schedules
- resource conservationrecycling, energy saving, reusing, rainwater harvesting, insulation
- farming knowledgecrop rotation, companion planting, seed saving, fallow fields, frost dates
compostinglandfilling
Burying waste in earth
incineration · dumping · burning · throwing away · ocean dumping
compostinggrowing
Increasing or enlarging
photosynthesis · biosynthesis · cultivation · planting · germination
compostingpreserving
Protecting from deterioration
embalming · mummification · freezing · canning · pickling
- composting toiletWaste processor using decay
- human compostingConverting bodies to soil
- hot compostingHeat-driven organic matter breakdown
compound, component, composition, compost, composite, decompose, decomposition, decomposed, decomposing