County of Kauai, State of Hawaii
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  Get your FREE COMPOSTING BIN Minimize

The County of Kauaʻi is giving away free composting bins to Kauaʻi residents! To obtain your bin, please call the County Recycling Office at 241-4841 to schedule an appointment to watch a twenty minute informative video and complete a registration form. The video will be shown at the Kauaʻi Resource Center located at 3460 Ahukini Road in Lihue.
     
  Composting Minimize

Composting is a natural form of recycling. A recent waste characterization study shows that over 30% of the household waste on Kaua'i is compostable organic waste. There are several methods for creating and maintaining a simple and effective home composting system. Basic composting involves building a “heap” or carbon and nitrogen based materials, adding air and moisture to the pile, and allowing it to “rot”.

 

It's easy to compost in your own backyard using do-it-yourself techniques like constructing hoop wire bins or pallet bins, or using a burial method.  A quick web search can provide a lot of information.  Backyard composting bins are available locally at Home Depot- call for information and pricing.

 

Here are some examples of compost ingredients

  


Carbon (brown dry organic matter)

  • dried leaves
  • shredded paper
  • wood chips
  • dried grass


Nitrogen (wet green organic matter)

  • fruit peelings
  • kitchen vegetable scraps
  • coffee grounds
  • fresh plants

 

For more information on composting using “The Earth Machine” provided by the County of Kauai, please click on the following link to access the vendor’s website:
http://www.earthmachine.com/how_to_compost.html

 
     
 
  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.
     
  Home Composting Partners Minimize

photo of the Earth Machine compost binKekaha Community Gardens distributes the County Earth Machine bins at their site as well as address: 8610 Kiowea Rd., Kekaha, P.O. Box 1170 Kekaha 96752. Ph: 651-5197 email: kekahagarden@gmail.com. Contact Diane Shomaker: 651-5197 or log onto www.kekahacommunitygarden.org for more information.
     
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