Winter composting.jpgWith winter in full-swing, that does not mean you need to quit composting. Composting in the winter and cold temperatures is still possible with these helpful tips:

  • Keep your composter in the sun as much as possible. This is probably the same place you have had it all summer, but with the angle of the sun changing as it does during the winter, you may need to take another look and adjust the placement of your Lifetime Composter.
  • For winter composting, keeping your compost a little on the dry side may also help. This can be achieved by modifying your typical brown versus green ratios to a little more heavy on brown.
  • Moisture in the compost mix is necessary but too much will freeze and slow down the helpful composting bacteria, or put these bacteria into hibernation. So, a touch dryer during the winter is better.
  • Mass: Winter composting happens more effectively when you have more compost material in your Lifetime Composter. The bigger the mass the more heat that is generated and retained to keep those bacteria going. Since you probably won’t be using your compost until spring, building up the compost material mass should be fairly easy.

What types of things can you compost during the winter? The same stuff you do during the summer!  However, since we typically generate a lot of trash during the winter because of the holidays, remember a majority of your holiday trash can actually be saved to make great compost. Here is a list of items you’ll probably have laying around this time of year that provide lots of great compost material that you can easily add to your Lifetime Composter.


DO put in your composter:

  • Wrapping paper - Use only non-foil, non-glossy papers.  Be sure to remove any ribbons and tape.   Tear or shred paper then add it to your composter gradually to maintain a good green/brown balance.  (Paper is considered a brown material.)
  • Empty wrapping paper tubes
  • Tissue paper
  • Cardboard boxes
  • Hanging price tags - remove the plastic tabs first
  • Christmas dinner table scraps – do not add animal fats, gravy, meats, cheeses, or bones to your composter
  • Napkins
  • Paper plates

Don't put in your composter:

  • Foil, glossy, or metallic wrapping papers
  • Ribbons and bows
  • Evergreen garland and wreaths
  • Christmas trees

Evergreen garlands, wreaths, and Christmas trees all contain chemicals in the needles which kill the bacteria necessary for the composting process in a compost tumbler.

Be patient with your winter composting. The composting process happens more slowly with less heat. Also, don’t forget to rotate your Lifetime Composter at least twice a week to keep it aerated. This might not be something you look forward to when it is cold outside, but just think about the beautiful garden your effort will create in the springtime.