Backyard Composting Basics

two 5th grade girls sitting in the grass smiling while playing in the compost samples

Composting is harnessing the power of nature to recycle your organic waste at home. More than 25% of the typical home’s waste is yard trimmings and food scraps. Imagine cutting down the amount of trash you take to the dump by 25%.

This webinar will teach effective methods for transforming your yard waste and kitchen scraps into compost in your own backyard.

Register to join us online at 11 a.m. on 05/19/2026.

We will discuss how to set up a backyard composting pile for your home. We will use material from NC State University including:

  • How composting works: compost critters need food, water, & shelter
  • Materials that can and can't be composted at home
  • How to conduct a home waste audit
  • Compost pile and bin selection to meet your families needs
  • How I go about building the pile: batch and continuous
  • Common issues with home composting and how to prevent/solve them

Backyard Composting of Yard, Garden, and Food Discards Sherman, R. 2017. NC State Extension. AG-791.