Compost Resources

The following resources were developed by the Compost Education Program at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County.

General Information

Home Composting Brochure (PDF) (4 pp, 395K)
An excellent resource available on the Cornell Waste Management Institute's web site that touches on about everything. "The Essentials of Composting" section is very helpful.

Basics & Benefits of Composting (PDF) (1 p, 374K)
What is compost and why is it so useful when used as mulch, in the garden or in potting mixtures?

Preparation of Food Scraps for Faster Composting (PDF) (1 p, 176K)
Helpful tips for kitchen management.

Outdoor Composting

Welded Wire Cylinder Bin (PDF) (1 p, 182K)
A popular, effective and low-cost bin for composting.

Lasagna Composting (PDF) (1 p, 182K)
The layering technique that minimizes maintenance, deters pests and speeds composting!

Troubleshooting (PDF) (2 pp, 180K)
Describes symptoms, possible causes and solutions for the most common composting problems.

Leaf Composting (PDF) (1 p, 120K)
Five ways to use leaves to more effectively garden and compost.

Winter Composting (PDF) (1 p, 197K)
How to extend the life of your outdoor composting well into the cold season.

Indoor Composting with a Worm Bin

Standard version (PDF) (4 pp, 211K)
For easier viewing and printing on 8 1/2" by 11" paper

Brochure to fold (PDF) (2 pp, 209K)
Sizing best if you print (back-to-back) on legal paper, then fold

Sources of Composting Worms (PDF) (1 p, 292K)
Where to get composting worms for vermicomposting.

"Stealth" (Indoor) Composting (PDF) (1 p, 342K)
An indoor composting system that defies detection!

Cornell Waste Management Institute

Visit Cornell University's Waste Management Institute for information on small and large scale composting, mortality and on-farm composting, health and safety of compost, and find a map to locate compost demonstration sites and facilities in New York State.

Last updated July 26, 2019