Originally Published In The Deseret News -- Wednesday, November 11, 1992
Recycling is a popular, environmentally and politically correct buzzword. But recycling is nothing new. Everything, including people, will ultimately be recycled. I recently visited two recycling sites that emphasize environmental benefits rather than filling landfills or causing environmental pollution.
"Zoo-Doo" is a catchy name for what starts out as a very unappetizing material. Zoo-Doo organic compost comes from animals at Hogle Zoo and is available at the zoo and some nurseries. Salt Lake resident Jim Kennard gardens next to the giraffe house, and his brainstorm led to the Zoo-Doo project. Hogle Zoo did not have the room for large composting piles, so Kennard developed a composting system following methods used in his backyard barrel-type composter. A cement mixer truck holding 12 cubic yards (5 days' worth) of waste is the giant barrel. Animal waste is shredded, loaded into the mixer and turned every day to mix oxygen with the material.
Elephants and rhinos are the principal contributors, but waste from 10 other animals is also mixed in. Zoo-Doo, like other organic matter, improves the soil and its water retention and adds small amounts of fertilizer. The Zoo-Doo compost has the consistency of peat moss and is largely odorless. It diverts animal manure that would fill our landfills to a useful purpose and reduces expenses to the taxpayer.
Pioneer Trail State Park is doing its part by recycling thousands of bags of leaves from Salt Lake City that are usually dumped in the landfill. This year 750 tons of leaves will be composted at the park. Park superintendent Mike Barber promotes utilizing leaves to improve soil and to save taxpayers money. The leaves are spread on fields, nitrogen fertilizer is added to promote microbiological activity, and the leaves are plowed into the soil.
It is amazing how many leaves the soil will decompose. Avid recyclers will not only keep their own leaves but also become a re-pos-i-tory for neighborhood leaves. Soil condition is the key to success in all gardens, whether the soil is sandy or clay. Growing annuals, perennials, vegetables, turf or trees is easier on soil with abundant organic matter. Compost improves soil tilth, aeration and drainage, and supplies some mineral nutrients. Typically compost and manure are low in nutrients, so most gardeners add fertilizer to supplement the compost.
Composting is a simple process. Typically the pile is a bin or fenced area made of cinder blocks, wood or wire. Compost piles can be started any time, but fall is ideal because large amounts of organic matter are available. Start the pile with coarse organic matter on the bottom, then add six inches of finer material. Add two inches of garden soil and repeat the process until you have a large pile. The soil provides any needed microorganisms. Add about 1/2 cup of ammonium nitrate to each 10 cubic feet of material. If the pile is dry, add water to each layer. Make the top layer soil and form a dish in the center to hold water.
Composting proceeds more rapidly if the material is shredded. There are many different shredders available, or rotary motors can be used if the material is shredded on a level spot free from debris. Spread a thin layer of plant waste on a level site and move the mower back and forth across the material. Keep hands and feet away from the mower and don't try shredding large objects or woody material.
Compost decomposes more rapidly if the pile is turned every four to six weeks. Add water if the compost is dry when the pile is turned. Compost all types of vegetative matter including leaves, plant stems, grass clippings and household food waste. Avoid using meatscraps or fatty materials, as they breed flies, attract neighborhood pests (including skunks) and create odors. Weeds that have gone to seed should not be composted, nor should diseased plants. Larger woody prunings must be run through a shredder before composting. Grass clippings are an excellent material to compost but should be mixed with other materials, rather than piled in thick layers. When compost is ready for use, it is a dark brown color and has no odor. Remove finished compost from the pile and sift it with a fork or through a 3/4-inch mesh screen. Return undecomposed material for another try. Adding two inches of compost annually to the soil is ideal.
Do your part by recycling the leaves and other materials so they aren't a burden on the landfills. If you can't find enough material on your own, help the zoo by using Zoo-Doo. Your soil, your pocketbook and the environment all benefit from your recycling efforts.
Larry A. Sagers is a horticulturist with the Utah State University Extension Service.
© 1998 Deseret News Publishing Co.