Backyard Composting

Composting at home is a great way to keep yard and kitchen waste out of the landfill where it produces methane and contributes to climate change. It also creates a perfect soil add-in for your at-home garden. To learn more about Mesa's efforts to divert waste from the landfill, please explore the Mesa Climate Action Plan.

What is compost?

Compost is the material that results from the natural decomposition of plant material and other once-living materials. Finished compost is an earthy, dark, crumbly substance that is excellent for adding to house plants or enriching garden soil.

Benefits of composting

• Condition your soil so you use less water.
• Save money on fertilizer and yard supplies.
• Improve soil structure to promote healthy root growth.
• Save money on hauling and landfill fees.

We have backyard compost containers available to Mesa residents for a $5 non-refundable delivery fee. Once you have the container, you can keep it as long as you need it.

Steps to successful composting

Once you have your composting container, you will need to select a location in your yard that is close to a water source, guarded from strong winds and preferably in the shade. Next, you should stack up the dry material and follow these 10 simple steps:

1. Break or cut all the material into pieces that are no more than 4 inches long. This exposes more surface so that microorganisms can break it down.
2. Dig out about two inches of dirt from the site in which you will be placing your container and then add a small layer of branches to the dirt to allow air to enter from the bottom.
3. Place a mixture of approximately four parts dry material (rich in carbon) for every one part of moist material (rich in nitrogen).
4. Place alternating layers of moist and dry material. Also, add a layer of dirt or manure every so often. If you are using food waste, make sure it is buried under the other layers to avoid problems with flies.
5. As you add your layers, water them to assure that the pile is completely moist. Note that the interior should be moist, but not wet.  During heavy rains, cover the container with a plastic cover or lid.
6. Once the container is filled, cover the pile with two inches of dirt.
7. When decomposition starts, the pile will begin to heat up, with the interior temperature reaching as much as 160 degrees Fahrenheit. This high temperature is good because it kills the weeds and their seeds that may be in the compost mixture.
8. As the pile begins to cool back down so that it is the same temperature as the outside air, reactivate it by permitting air to enter the container. To do this, put the material into another container - or use a pitchfork to mix up the contents. It may also be necessary to add more water or plant material.
9. Repeat these steps as necessary until the material is dark and smooth.

To use the final compost material, sift the material with 1/2-inch sieve to remove the semi-decomposed larger pieces. You can return these pieces to the container to further decompose.

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