Compost Information

Compost is organic material made from the decomposition of living things. Food and yard waste break down in the composting process to produce nutrients for plants. Composting is nature’s way of recycling. Rather than sending your food scraps, yard waste, and other organics to the landfill, you can compost them to create a nutrient rich fertilizer for your garden or lawn.

It’s a product of controlled biological decomposition of organic material that has been sanitized through the generation of heat and stabilized to the point that it is beneficial to plant growth. Compost allows you to return badly needed organic matter to your soil. Compost has a unique ability to improve the properties of soils and growing media physically (structurally), chemically (nutritionally), and biologically. Participate in nature’s cycle and cut down on the amount of trash going into burgeoning landfills. 

And, unlike most fertilizers, compost will not run off your yard and pollute Owatonna’s waterways. Individuals/ groups seeking information or interested in further supporting composting efforts in Minnesota should inquire with the Minnesota Composting Council.

Community Benefits of Composting Yard Waste

• Community as a whole processes less solid waste; increasing the useful life of our landfills
• Reduction in potential for environmental pollution from landfills or incinerators that otherwise would have received the yard waste
• Helps the community meet state-mandated recycling goals
• Reduction in potential for erosion and waste pollution by enhancing soil structure and proving nutrients

Benefits of Using Compost

• Binds Contaminates
• Degrades Compounds
• Erosion Control
• Improvements to soil structure
• Improvements for plant growth
• Reduction in fertilizer use
• Wetland Restoration
• Weed, Disease, and Pest Control