Union County, New Jersey-This winter, Union County residents can make the most of their food waste by composting in the backyard. Compost is a natural organic soil enhancer that helps flower beds, vegetable gardens and shrubs thrive without the need for additional fertilization.

Excluding food residues from the waste stream helps reduce the burden on municipal waste disposal operations. Pumpkins, decorative gourds, and other plant-based home decorations can be placed in the compost pile along with kitchen waste and garden waste.

"Residents of Union County brought more than 5 tons of pumpkins to our annual Jack o'Lantern recycling event in November, making a good start. Anyone who can enter the yard can learn how to start composting. Help maintain the momentum," said Alexander Mirabella, chairman of the Union County Commissioner's Committee. "This is a simple and effective method that can help recover valuable organic nutrients from the waste stream and reduce the burden on local waste disposal operations."

Composting has a science, but the basics are simple. Kitchen waste is mixed with leaves and other yard waste to form a pile. The pile creates a warm environment for naturally occurring microorganisms. The end result is humus, a fragile organic substance that can add nutrients to the soil.

Almost any kind of fruit and vegetable residue can be put into the compost pile, raw or cooked. This includes coffee grounds and filters, and tea in the bag (remove the staples if any). Broken eggshells are also recommended.

Jack O'lanterns, flower arrangements and other plant-based decorations can also be composted. Any non-plant accessories should be stripped off.

Some paper products can also be put in, such as towels, napkins and ordinary cardboard. These should be torn into strips to help disintegrate.

Dairy products and cooked meat should also be kept away from home compost piles as they may attract pests. Experts categorically pointed out that raw meat should not be composted at home, as are used cat litter and other pet feces.

Nutshells, corn husks and other "woody" kitchen waste can also be ignored because they take too long to decompose.

Backyard composters also need to be selective about the garbage in the yard. Weeds can enter, but their seeds cannot enter, otherwise more weeds will grow from a pile of weeds. Likewise, any plants that show signs of infestation or disease should be excluded.

Due to the cold weather, composting in winter can be a challenge. Following a few simple steps can help keep the pile warm and active.

Start by preserving the fallen leaves in the yard. The leaves provide the carbon needed for composting, and the food waste provides nitrogen.

If needed, additional insulating materials can be added in a variety of ways:

A basic, "unscientific" compost will produce humus within a few months, but it may take a year or more. By cultivating an ideal environment for microbial activity, a home composter can easily speed up this process to a few weeks.

Factors that speed up composting include the use of the best mixture of "green" and "brown" waste, such as two parts of kitchen waste and one part of grass clippings and one part of leaves.

Rotating the pitchfork once a week will also help to inflate it. Store-bought compost drums are designed to adapt to aeration, but be wary of the possibility of freezing in winter.

For more guidance on home composting, please visit the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station online at njaes.rutgers.edu/fs811. The video description can also be found at envirostewards.rutgers.edu/Earth-Day.html.

The Union County Recycling and Planning Bureau hosted 2021 pumpkin recycling events at locations in Berkeley Heights, Elizabeth, and Westfield. During the week-long event, residents of Lianhe County returned more than 5 tons of pumpkins, which were collected by a waste management company and used for conversion into green energy.

For quick links to all environmental activities and programs in Lianhe County, including the NJAES Rutgers cooperative promotion in Lianhe County, please visit ucnj.org/green-connect.

For information and updates on all United County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccinations, free testing, emergency food distribution, and other support services, please visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health (nj.gov/health).

For all Union County programs and services, please visit ucnj.org, call the public information line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online contact form.

Connect with Lianhe County on social media.

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