The City of Oklahoma City

Composting

Utility Service Center

Create a Compost Pile

Did you know that each household in Oklahoma City generates about 4.5 pounds of waste a day? About 25% of that is leaves, yard trimmings and food scraps that can be converted to compost, a rich fertilizer to spread in garden beds and under shrubs or used as potting soil for outdoor plants. Plus, by composting, you help reduce the amount of trash we send to the landfills.

Here’s an easy recipe for compost:

Select a dry, shady spot near a water source for your compost pile or bin. Add equal parts of three basic ingredients, chopped or shredded:

	1. Browns (dead leaves, branches and twigs) for carbon
	2. Greens (grass clippings, vegetable waste, fruit scraps and coffee grounds) for nitrogen
	3. Water, moistening dry materials as they are added

Mix well and stir frequently for about six months. Don’t allow the mixture to become too wet or too dry. Cover top of compost with tarp (optional) to keep it moist. When the material at the bottom is dark and rich in color, your compost is ready to use.

Indoor Composting

You also can compost materials indoors using a special type of bin, which you can buy or make yourself. Remember to tend to your pile and keep track of what you throw in. A properly managed compost bin will not attract pests or rodents or smell bad. Your compost should be ready in two to five weeks.

For a free guide on composting, contact Utilities Customer Services at 405-297-2833 or water@okc.gov.

Optional Ingredients to Compost

Animal manure
Clean paper
Coffee grounds and filters
Cotton rags
Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint
Eggshells
Fireplace ashes
Fruites and vegetables
Grass clippings

Carboard rolls
Hair and fur
Hay and straw
House plants
Leaves
Nutshells
Sawdust
Shredded newspaper
Tea bags
Wood chips

Ingredients to Leave Out
Please do not add the following ingredients. They could:
	Release substances harmful to plants:
	Black walnut tree leaves or twigs Coal or charcoal ash
	Contain fruit flies and eggs:
	Citrus rinds
	Create odor problems and attract pests, such as rodents and flies:
	Dairy products (butter, egg yolks, milk, sour cream, yogurt Fats, grease, lard or oils Meat or fish bones and scraps
	Contain diseases or insects that may survive and transfer to other plants:
	Diseased or insect-ridden plants
	Contain parasites, bacteria, germs, pathogens and viruses:
	Pet wastes – dog or cat feces, soiled cat litter
	Kill beneficial composting organisms:
	Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides

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