Washington State Department of Ecology

Home Composting

Use this Guide to train Compost Educators and help develop Home Composting outreach materials. We are working on a new Compost Educators Training Guide that is general for all counties. Thank you Clark County Master Composter/Recyclers for loaning us this document.

Show this presentation to educate residents about composting and soil health. Thank you Stevens County for developing this program.

Launch your home composting information search with some of these Web sites. Do you have a particular favorite? Send us the link and tell us why it’s so great. Here are some of ours...

Seattle Tilth provides four publications under "Free Downloads" that talk about different home composting compost systems.
Seattle Public Utilities site is full of useful, relevant information for the home composter. Linking to their 12 page brochure provides comprehensive information.
King County’s compost site is very simple to navigate, but lacks enough detailed information to actually get the job done. It does provide clear recommendations for compost use and application.
WSU Cooperative Extension, an easy to follow overview of how to make and use compost, including a section devoted to composting coffee grounds.
WSU Whatcom County Extension site is extensive, with lots of links that take you all over the US (many come with the caveat, “These are not WSU verified sources of information - use your own judgment”).
California Integrated Waste Management Board site is very text-heavy, but very informative with useful information and links for the home composter, commercial composter, institutions and agencies.
Master Composter is a commercial site that supports itself by selling books and ad space, but does have plenty of easy to follow, useful information on composting. It provides interesting links, and information on various non-scientific surveys with topics like “coffee grounds” and “compost tea”.
Environmental Protection Agency, provides basic information (very basic), but has plenty of links to other sites and publications.
New Brunswick (Canada) Department of Environment's Backyard Magic: Great site, easy to follow, good pictures.
US Department of Agriculture: Vermicompost Site: Information of on worm biology.
City Farmer; Vancouver, BC: Slide shows of various projects
Worm Sources in Tacoma/Olympia
School Composting A Manual for Connecticut Schools: Mansfield, Connecticut ~ Mansfield Middle School
Klickitat County Compost Calculator: Create your own recipe for the perfect compost…. This site helps you wade through Carbon:Nitrogen ratios.