Backyard composting

Gardeners have long made and used compost because of the way it improves garden soil. Home composting transforms yard debris and food scraps into a valuable soil amendment and closes the recycling loop in our own backyards (Figure 1). Today, many cities have municipal composting programs. These programs include curbside yard and food debris collection, large-scale composting at commercial facilities, and resale of the finished compost to gardeners and landscapers. Nonetheless, backyard composting remains popular in areas without municipal programs, and for gardeners who want to make and use their own compost