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  Get your FREE COMPOSTING BIN Minimize

The County of Kauaʻi is giving away free composting bins to Kauaʻi residents! 

Call to schedule an appointment, watch a twenty minute instructional video, and complete a registration form.

Schedule to a time to watch the video and pick up a compost bin with
Laura Kelly, County of Kaua'i
Phone: 241-4990
Email: lkelly@kauai.gov

 

The video will be shown at the Kauaʻi Resource Center located at 3460 Ahukini Road in Lihue by appointment only. 

 

Or use a Satellite Compost Bin Distribution center. Call or email prior to visit.

 

Aiyah’s Garden 4558 Kukui Street, Kapa’a 
Call for an appointment Monday – Saturday · Phone: 822 – 7333

 

Kekaha Community Garden
Email: kekahagaden@gmail.com · Phone: 651 – 5197
     
  Composting Minimize

Composting is a natural form of recycling fruit and vegetable scraps and green/yard waste into a rich soil amendment.  Use the free County of Kaua'i compost bin or purchase composting bins locally at Home Depot, Ace Hardware or Costco.

 

County of Kaua'i Earth Machine backyard home composting bin.

What to Compost:
Fruits and Vegetables scraps, Eggshells, Coffee grounds and filters, Tea bags, Nut shells, Shredded newspaper, and Cardboard (toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, paper egg cartons), Yard Waste, Houseplants, Hay and Straw, Leaves, Sawdust, Wood chips, Cotton, Linen, Wool Rags, Dryer and Vacuum Cleaner Lint, Hair and fur, Fireplace ashes, Manure from Chickens, Goats, Cattle.

 

What Not to Compost and Why:
·         Black walnut tree leaves or twigs
- Releases substances that might be harmful to plants
·         Coal or charcoal ash
- Might contain substances harmful to plants
·         Dairy products (e.g., butter, milk, sour cream, yogurt)
- Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
·         Diseased or insect-ridden plants
- Diseases or insects might survive composting and maybe transferred back to other plants
·         Fats, oils and grease (FOG).(Used cooking oil can be recycled at Lihue and Hanapepe transfer stations
- Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
·         Meat, Fish, Bones, Whole Eggs, Shrimp and Clam shells
- Creates odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
·         Pet wastes (dog or cat feces, used Kitty litter)
- Might contain parasites, bacteria, germs, pathogens, and viruses harmful to humans
·         Cut Grass/Lawn Clippings.  Try Grass Cycling instead - mow without a bag and leave clippings on lawn.
- Grass will take up a lot of space in your compost bin

 

Download the Earth Machine manual.  

 

It's easy to compost in your own backyard using do-it-yourself techniques like constructing hoop wire bins or pallet bins, using a burial method or composting in heaps.  Heap method -  build a “heap” (pile) of green waste, water the heap (pile), and cover with a tarp.  The "heap" will then decompose (compost).  To generate heat the "heap" needs to be a minimum of 3' tall x 3' deep x 3' wide or 6 'tall x 6' deep x 6' wide.
     
 
  Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Composting Minimize
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How long before I have compost?
    

Most people can harvest finished compost from the bottom of their pile about every 4 to 6 months. However, the smaller the pieces, the faster the composting. And, if you have a good mix of "greens" and "browns", stir thoroughly and frequently, and keep it from getting too wet or dry, you'll harvest compost in as little as 6 weeks.
  

Will my compost smell?
    

Properly running compost bins should not give off any unpleasant odors – if anything, they should be almost sweet-smelling. If you do notice any unpleasant odors, mix it well with a compost turner or pitchfork to get more air into the pile, and add some more "browns" (e.g. leaves) to dry it out. Don’t add piles of grass clippings all at once, as they will give off an ammonia-like smell. Avoid putting any meat, dairy, oil or fat products in your compost bin.
  

Will my compost pile attract bugs?
    

You will have bugs. It's good to have pill bugs. Be cautious of centipedes and cockroaches when turning or retrieving compost from your bin.
  

What do I do to get rid of fruit flies?
    

During the summer, you may be greeted by fruit flies when you open your compost bin. Add leaves or a thin layer of soil each time you add fresh material to prevent fruit flies.
  

What can I do to keep rodents and dogs out of my compost bin?
    
  • Never put any meat, dairy, oil or fat in your compost bin
  • Bury fresh material in the compost pile
  • On the Earth Machine (provided by the County), keep the harvest door fastened by placing a stick through the matching holes in the door
  • Place bricks or flat stones around the base of the compost bin
  • Add dog hair to the compost
  

What should I do if my compost bin fills up too quickly?
    

Use your compost bin primarily for kitchen waste, as yard waste will fill it up in a hurry. If you generate too much kitchen waste for one compost bin, consider getting a second one.

  

How should I handle yard waste?
    

Consider buying or making a large yard waste compost bin, and keep it close to your other compost bin, so you have a ready source of cover material. It is helpful to keep some bags of leaves aside for use throughout the year.
  

How moist should my compost pile be?
    

The rule of thumb is to keep the material as moist as a wrung-out sponge. In dry locations, you may need to periodically add water to the pile, or wet materials (e.g. leftover coffee). In rainy areas or seasons, you may need to add dry leaves, aerate the pile with a pitchfork or compost turner, or leave the lid of the compost bin off on sunny days.
     
  Earth Machine backyard home composting bin provided by the County of Kaua'i Minimize

photo of the Earth Machine compost bin