Composting & Recycling

Michigan State University Extension supports composting and recycling as an environmentally sustainable practice for homes, farms, businesses, and industry. Composting and recycling are important steps taken to complete a product’s life cycle. Whether products are grown naturally or manufactured, compost is the easiest and least expensive solution to managing our organic waste; especially our food and yard residues. The cycles of decomposition are a part of our natural world, and is a key part to enriching the soil. Composting is simply where we control the decomposition process to speed it up. Recycling creates new products from old manufactured items made from glass, metals, plastics and other raw materials.  By recycling we contribute to a sustainable system that benefits our environment by reducing pressure for new raw materials.  

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• Fertilizing established perennial gardens – feed ‘em and weep

  May 17, 2013 | Rebecca Finneran | Smart gardeners know that heavy fertilization of perennial garden plants leads to flopping over half-way through the season.

• On-farm composting workshop to be held April 10

  March 22, 2013 | Diane Brown | Participants will learn how to recycle plant waste and make compost on their farm.

• HOT TOPICSmart gardeners build soil fertility to produce healthy plants

  March 1, 2013 | Gary Heilig | Build up your soil by taking a soil test to determine nutrient requirements, adding organic matter and planting cover crops.

• Potting soils and seed-starting mixes for your garden

  March 1, 2013 | Gary Heilig | Healthy garden vegetables and flowers begin with good soils.

• HOT TOPICRecycle your fresh Christmas tree and protect against deer browse

  December 26, 2012 | Rebecca Finneran | Take advantage of this smart use of your old Christmas tree. Protect your garden plants from deer feeding by placing cut boughs from your recycled tree in a tee-pee fashion around plants.

• HOT TOPICHave a “fire-wise” Christmas

  December 21, 2012 | Beth Clawson | Explore tips and suggestions from Firewise educators to protect your home, family and community from fires started by holiday lights and decorations.

• Leaves compost: fall is a great time to add it to gardens

  October 24, 2012 | Beth Clawson | Composting instead of burning provides many benefits for you and your environment.

• HOT TOPICBuying local reduces food waste, which is recyclable as compost for your garden

  September 20, 2012 | Beth Clawson | Developing food waste reduction habits and composting can reduce food waste, save money, conserve resources and produce a valuable soil additive for your gardens.

• Michigan’s premier multi-county recycling program is a green machine

  July 24, 2012 | William Carpenter | Emmet county recycling serves four northwest Lower Michigan counties and several communities. Recycling is an effective limiter of greenhouse gas emissions.

• Managing your summer compost

  June 7, 2012 | Beth Clawson | Follow these quick tips to keep your compost working at optimum levels all summer long.

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