Backyard Composting

Benefits of Composting

Increases infiltration and permeability of heavy soils, thus reducing erosion and runoff.
Improves water holding capacity, thus reducing water loss and leaching in sandy soils.
Supplies a variety of macro and micronutrients.
May control or suppress certain soil-borne plant
pathogens.
Supplies significant quantities of organic matter.
Improves cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soils and growing media, thus improving their ability to hold nutrients for plant use.
Supplies beneficial microorganisms to soils and growing media.
Improves and stabilizes soil pH.
Can bind and degrade specific pollutants

For more information on how our economy is benefited by you composting organic materials through collection or drop-off programs, click on links below.

Resources to help get started composting at home:

A Homeowner's Guide to Composting

City of Minneapolis: Backyard Composting

Composting Council: Composting and Vermicomposting Resources

Eartheasy: How to Make Composting Easy

Happy DIY Home: 25 Incredible Benefits of Gardening

Hennepin County: Home Composting Factsheet

HomeAdvisor: Composting and Landscaping at Home

Minnesota Extension: Composting in Home Gardens

US Composting Council: Compost and It's Benefits Factsheet

Yard Waste Care - Start and Make Compost at Home

Porch: Backyard Composting

MPCA: How do I use Compost?

MPCA Backyard Composting