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Composting Tips

In today’s world, the concept of recycling is becoming increasingly more important. Millennium Waste offers commercial and residential recycling services, which makes it easier for you to help create a sustainable environment for future generations. We recycle glass, cardboard, paper, aluminum, and plastic – but why stop there? Learn how you can utilize disposed organic materials such as food scraps, leather, and dead plants to the max by turning them into rich, nutrient filled soil that can be used to fertilize your garden. The soil is produced through the hard work of microorganisms that break down the materials you choose to put in your compost. In order for these microorganisms to perform as you wish, you will have to provide them with water, oxygen and, of course, food. Composting is a fun, cheap, and efficient way of acquiring fertilizer for your garden, and it is a great opportunity to teach your children about the biological processes that occur in nature.

Here are some great composting tips:

The first thing you need to decide is what kind of compost you would like to start. There are two main types: static and dynamic.

Static

+ Requires minimum effort since you basically mix all the ingredients, walk away and let nature do its job.
- The compost needs to contain the correct balance of water, oxygen, and organic waste in order to function without maintenance.
- The process might be slow during the colder months.

Dynamic

+ Produces compost at a fast rate.
- Time consuming since it regularly needs to be turned and monitored.

After deciding what kind that will work best for you, it is time to pick out a composting bin and get started!

Ingredients

In order for your compost to produce soil, it needs carbon and nitrogen (e.g. manure, food scraps – anything organic). The tricky part is to find the right balance, since different organic materials have different organic ratios. When starting up the compost you will have to lay the ground work by adding either regular soil or store-bought compost activator. The latter can also be used later in the process if you notice that your compost is breaking down slowly, since it will replenish the pile with nitrogen.

Water

As mentioned above, too much water will work against the composting process. You can easily test the moisture level of your soil by squeezing it with your hand. The ultimate texture is when it neither drips nor crumbles. Simply use a garden hose or watering can to nurture your compost.

Oxygen

Oxygen is vital for the composting process to take place. Failure to properly provide your compost with oxygen can result in a very smelly pile of ingredients.

  • Put some small tree branches or twigs in the compost to make sure the soil isn’t packed too tight.
  • Regularly dig into the soil with a shovel and stir it around in order to mix contents and “air it out”.
  • Don’t drown your compost. Too much water will make it dense and prevent oxygen from reaching the deeper areas. If you have accidently over-watered it, simply add sawdust to soak up the excess fluid.

Millennium Waste Inc. offers residential recycling services for Aledo, IL residents. We understand the importance preserving natural resources for future generations and recycling is one of the best ways for you to reduce the negative impact of that waste. We provide our residential recycling customers with an 18-gallon recycle bin for single stream recycling collection, eliminating the need to sort glass and plastic.

For those who have more yard waste than they can compost at home, Millennium Waste accepts yard waste for composting. The composting is done at the landfill and is eventually used to enhance the site soils to support grass growth.

Let Millennium Waste be your partner in reducing and reusing products that make up a wide ranging level of waste. Contact us today at 309-787-2303 so that together we can comprise a reduction strategy to benefit our community and world.


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Keeping the Community Clean

Millennium Waste Incorporated is committed to the growth and well being of the Quad Cities area. That’s why it’s so important to us to contribute to community events and activities. As proud members of the cities we serve, we are dedicated to youth involvement and keeping Betterndorf, Davenport, East Moline, Moline, Rock Island and all of our communities clean.

Events and Activities:

  • Extreme Cleanup
  • Quad Cities Marathon
  • Bix 7
  • Greek Fest
  • Cinco De Mayo Festival
  • Bettendorf July 4th Festival

Contact us today with questions or suggestions.

 

The Quad Cities Landfill will be closing at 10am on Saturday for scheduled scale maintenance.  Sorry for the inconvenience.  Thank you!

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