South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

Here's the dirt on backyard composting

You can save money and reduce runoff from chemical fertilizers and pesticides by turning your grass clippings, leaves and food scraps into compost to nourish your flower beds, garden and lawn.

In nature, microorganisms break down (decompose) dead plants and animals. We can show you how to set up and maintain a simple backyard system that harnesses that naturally-occurring cycle to make compost, a dark-colored, sweet-smelling, nutrient-rich, soil-like material.

The Benefits of Composting

Among its many benefits, compost:

• increases soil aeration;
• increases water-holding capacity of soil;
• helps living plants absorb nutrients;
• reduces or eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers;
• reduces or eliminates the need for pesticides by helping suppress plant diseases and pests;
• keeps yard trimmings out of landfills; and
• saves you money.
  

S.C. Smart Gardener Program

DHEC’s Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling offers composting workshops, printed materials and assistance through its Smart Gardener Program.

We also publish the "South Carolina Smart Gardener Handbook" that tells you about:

• soil enrichment;
• native planting;
• naturescaping;
• smart watering;
• composting; and
• alternatives to chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Learn more about composting in South Carolina.

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S.C. Smart Gardener Handbook

Other Publications

Other Helpful Web Sites

Toll-free
Recycling Hotline
1-800-768-7348

Contact DHEC's
Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling