Last updated 5 months ago
With demand for organic and pesticide-free food growing rapidly, many organic farmers are looking for ways to improve their output and crop quality. One of the best ways to do this is to take a closer look at the compost you use, which supplies the soil with the nutrients necessary for thriving crops. Take a look at the following tips on how to be a better gardener through your composting methods:
Add Compost at the Right Time
In order for soil to reach peak nutrient density, it must be given enough time to meld with the compost. In cooler climes, such as the Boulder area, this means spreading the compost in your garden once in fall, before the ground freezes. This way, the compost can further decompose all winter long. In warmer climates where the ground does not freeze, compost should be added twice yearly—once in the spring and again in the fall.
Use the Right Amount of Compost
The amount of compost required for rich soil depends on the age of your garden. If this is its first year and the soil has never been used for growing crops before, add between two and six inches of compost to infuse the soil with organic nutrients. If you are just refreshing an already-existing garden, add a quarter of an inch or less.
Turn the Compost Consistently
Oxygen is essential to the decomposition process, which is why you will need to mix the compost pile every so often to ensure that air can circulate through it. To get compost with the highest amount of nutrients, only turn it once. This makes the process take longer—about six weeks—but because nutrients are lost when you disturb the pile, the quality of the compost will be superb. If you need your compost sooner, turn the mix every 3–7 days, and the composting process will be done in 2–4 weeks.
You can always count on Western Disposal of Boulder to help you with your organic-gardening needs. We can supply you with high-quality compost mix made with recycled waste and answer any questions you may have about the composting process. Contact us at (303) 586-1100.
Last updated 5 months ago
According to recent statistics, only about one-third of the garbage generated in the United States is recycled, and organic food can carry such high price tags at the grocery store that its health benefits are often overlooked. You can play your part to make Boulder a healthier, greener place to live by using these links to learn more about recycling and organic gardening:
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Check out SmilingGardener.com’s page on how and when to use compost in your organic garden.
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Duracell has a fact sheet with information about how to dispose of certain types of batteries.
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Find out what happens to your recycled plastic shopping bags in this article from Earth911.com.
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The health benefits of picking organic food over non-organic food are innumerable, especially for kids. You can read about the top ten benefits that organic food provides for kids in this article from The Huffington Post.
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Keep America Beautiful, Inc. has published a number of statistics on recycling rates in the United States. You might be surprised by some of them!
For more information on the benefits of organic gardening and recycling, call Western Disposal at (303) 586-1100.
Last updated 5 months ago
Many households recycle materials such as newspapers, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans. However, recycling rates are relatively low in the United States because many recyclable materials require special disposal processes. Don’t be intimidated: consult this article for a look at the disposal process of three difficult-to-recycle products:
Batteries
While many people choose to throw their batteries away, recycling is highly recommended. Due to health concerns, you should recycle lithium, lithium ion, zinc air and rechargeable batteries. You can take these to your local waste management center, or stop by a retail chain like Best Buy or Whole Foods, which often have collection bins where you can drop off batteries for recycling.
Cell Phones
Over 125,000 cell phones are thrown away every year in America alone, amounting to over 65,000 tons of trash. Rather than putting your outdated phone out with the regular garbage, consider taking them to a recycling center or a drop box for used phones. The companies who own the boxes will either refurbish and resell your phone or strip it down and recycle the gold, silver, and copper components within. Or, if you prefer, you can donate your phone to any number of charities that collect used phones for those in need.
Compact-fluorescent light bulbs
While they may be less expensive than their LED counterparts, CFLs are also far more difficult to recycle. This is because they contain mercury, which gives off hazardous fumes when incinerated with normal trash. Many municipalities have recycling centers specially equipped to deal with potentially hazardous materials, and if yours does not, there are a variety of private corporations that do.
At Western Disposal of Boulder, we offer a variety of recycling and trash disposal services and can refer you to a number of other companies that can handle hazardous materials. Our single-stream recycling process takes the hassle and confusion out of the sorting process that many other waste management companies require of their customers. Call us at (303) 586-1100 for more information.
Last updated 5 months ago
Composting is an essential part of organic gardening, but the process can seem overwhelming to inexperienced gardeners. Luckily, with a few good tips and the right tools, virtually anyone can start and maintain a rich compost pile.
As the video shows, you can improve the quality and nutrient content of your compost by taking such actions as limiting the moisture you add, turning the mix based on its temperature, and adding ready-made compost to the pile. Specialized tools such as digging forks and machetes are also recommended for properly breaking up the compost. Click play to hear more details.
At Western Disposal of Boulder, we make our own nutrient-dense compost from the biodegradable materials we receive at our plant. Available in 1.5 cubic-feet bags or in bulk, it is the perfect addition to any organic garden. For more information about our compost or to place an order, call (303) 586-1100.
Last updated 6 months ago
In our recent blog posts, we’ve discussed how to start a compost pile at home and analyzed some common recycling myths. To learn more about these topics, click on the links below or call Western Disposal in Boulder at (303) 586-1100.
