In several states home-owners have no choice---recycling and composting are mandated. In other states, regulations simply prohibit the mixing of any organic yard waste with normal house-hold garbage---leaving it to the home-owner to decide how to dispose of leaves and grass clippings.

Composting is not new. Many people have been composting their organic waste and yard-waste for years. The problem, however, is that composting often required more work than many are willing to devote. Piles of leaves left to decompose anaerobically quickly develop odors, and the resulting material more closely resembles a wet, messy blob than newfound potting soil.

Perlite is being used more and more by those seeking a relatively painless, "lazy man's" approach to composting. By layering perlite with leaves, grass clippings, and other organic material, composting can be done without frequent turning and with almost no odor.With the addition of perlite during composting, the final product is a better potting soil and soil amendment!

Two university studies have confirmed the advantages of using perlite in home composting. In a study at Cornell University, Johnson, Richard, and Naylor ("Composting With Perlite") found that "in yard waste perlite improved uniformity of the mixtures and ... improved permeability of the material to air. With improvement in aeration comes a lessening of odors caused by anaerobic fermentation and a more rapid aerobic decomposition." These researchers found the best "mix design" for composting yard waste was a 1:1 ratio of perlite to yard waste.

In 1991, Peter Strom of Cook College at Rutgers University wrote on "The Use of Perlite as an Amendment in Backyard Composting". He found "the addition of perlite can be recommended for enhanced backyard leaf composting. The addition of a half-inch layer of perlite for every 12 inches of leaves was found to be beneficial. Double the dosage was found to be even better. And higher dosages, or application methods ...may show further benefit."

Mary Hamilton, long time mayor of Peapack-Gladstone, New Jersey, is a dedicated "composter" who has been using perlite for over ten years. As she and her husband grew older, turning the compost piles became harder and harder. Without turning, however, compost piles of leaves and grass clippings begin to smell, and the final product becomes almost useless. Now the Hamiltons start composting leaves and grass clippings in the fall by putting down alternating layers of leaves and grass clippings, and perlite. With virtually no turning or moving of the piles during the winter, they have perfect "potting soil" in the spring for their containers and garden!

For backyard composting, almost any grade of perlite is acceptable. Since the final use of most of the composted material will be outdoors, however, using finer grades of perlite (like Perl-Lome) could be used instead of the more available, but also more expensive traditional coarse "horticultural grades." Smaller or finer grades of perlite not only assist in composting, they also keep outdoor soils from compacting, and help retain far more water than coarser grades of perlite.

For more information, contact:
The Schundler Company
10 Central Street
Nahant, MA 01908
(ph)732-287-2244 (fax) 732-287-4185
www.schundler.com

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