This fall, make the most of your compost bin to dispose of post-Halloween pumpkins, leaves, branches and the scary leftovers hiding at the back of your fridge. By putting food and yard debris in the green bin, they turn into nutrient-rich compost, which improves soil health while reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.
This year’s old Jack-o’-Lanterns could help next year’s pumpkins grow by putting them in the compost bin. Before you do, however, make sure to remove candle wax, glow sticks and lights. If there’s melted candle wax inside, scoop it out and put the wax in the trash. Painted pumpkins should also go in the trash.
Do yourself and your neighbors a favor by sweeping up leaves from your sidewalk and street, even if you are in a Leaf Day service area. Many first pick ups don’t happen until mid-November and, in the meantime, they can clog storm drains, flood intersections and make sidewalks and streets slippery. Grab a rake (it won’t take long) and enjoy some crisp fall weather on a nice fall day while making your street a lot nicer to walk, bike and drive on. If there are too many leaves to fit in your bin, fill a 30-gallon kraft paper yard waste bag (40-pound weight limit) and set it out next to your compost bin. There is a $4.30 charge per bag.
Other items to put in the bin include fallen fruit, leaves, weeds, vines, grass, flowers, plant clippings, small branches (less than four inches thick and 36 inches long) and half-eaten candy bars and other sweets (just remove the wrappers first).
When filling your bin, keep in mind that the 60-gallon green compost roll carts have a 135-pound limit. If leaves are dry, bins can be filled to the top, but if leaves are wet, they can reach that maximum weight before the bin is full. Pumpkins are also heavy so if you have more than a few pumpkins to toss, hold some back to add to the bin the following week.
Photo by City of Portland.
