Home Composting Program

District of Columbia residents can earn a maximum rebate of $75 on a home composting system through the Department of Public Works’ Home Composting Program. The exact rebate amount is determined by a sliding scale. The rebate amount is subject to change on October 1 of each year.

Workshops

Learn to compost at home by attending the Department of Public Works’ Home Composting Program workshops.

Workshops will teach you the science of composting, what can be composted at home, how to compost at home, different types of home composting systems, best management practices, and more! District residents who attend a workshop are eligible for a rebate from the District to purchase their own home composting equipment.

Upcoming Workshop Dates & How to Register: To learn about upcoming workshop dates and to register for one, please visit our Eventbrite collection for upcoming Home Composting trainings and select a date that works for you.

For questions about the Home Composting Program, or to be notified when workshops are scheduled, send an email to program staff at [email protected].

What is Composting?

Composting is a process in which microbes and fungi break down organic matter into a nutrient-rich soil amendment called "compost." While composting may seem mysterious at first, it creates life from waste at its most basic level. Truly, anyone willing to try composting can find a way. In the District, residents have many ways to begin, even if that means giving their compostable materials to others to compost for them, and many organizations offer resources for composting at home, including the DC Department of Public Works (DPW).

Composting at home involves the right mixture of inputs, such as nitrogen-rich materials (food waste, fresh grass clippings) and carbon-rich materials (dry leaves, wood chips, straw), along with oxygen, water, and time, and the right container and know-how to foster the composting process from start to finish.

What are the benefits?

Composting reduces methane emissions and lowers your carbon footprint by diverting organic material from landfills. Using compost in your garden enriches the soil by increasing organic matter and helps it retain moisture.

What type of composting is best for me?

There are two primary forms of composting: "hot composting" and the cooler "vermicomposting".

Traditional hot composting: Typically done in an outdoor bin, this method relies on natural, heat-loving organisms to break down organic waste. It requires turning or stirring the compost a couple of times a month to let in fresh air (oxygen). This form is also generally called "backyard composting", although no backyard is required.
Vermicomposting: Earthworms naturally break down organic waste, like food and yard waste, along with sand or other grit, to create a high-quality soil amendment called "worm castings". Castings are prized for their moisture-retaining properties for indoor houseplants and outdoor gardens alike. Earthworms are sensitive to light, moisture, and temperature, so vermicomposting can be done indoors in a location with stable temperatures and low light, or outdoors embedded in a garden bed about 12 inches deep.

Rebate

To qualify for a rebate for an approved composting system container that you purchased, District residents must attend one of the workshops offered through the program and successfully complete it. Rebates must be processed within the same fiscal year as the training, and receipts are required.

Proof of residency is required to participate in our Home Composting workshops, and District residency is required to be eligible for a composting rebate. Rebates may be issued only once per household. Past participants in DC's home composting workshops may attend the training a second time, but they are eligible for a composting rebate only once.

Anyone engaging in home composting in DC is responsible for ensuring their bin is properly maintained. If you have questions or need troubleshooting tips, please contact DPW’s Office of Waste Diversion's Home Composting Program by emailing [email protected].

Carbon to Nitrogen Ratios

The ideal carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C:N) for composting is approximately 25-30:1 by weight. When piled to a point where heat can be trapped (dependinging on the system, this could be at least 2 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet, this carbon-to-nitrogen ratio allows for thermophilic – or "heat-loving” microbes to thrive, which allows your compost bin to warm up and break down materials and foster the success of "soil fauna", like earthworms, to assist with breaking down the organic materials to become stabilized in the form of compost, which is a nutrient-rich soil amendment for gardens, landscaped areas, and local farms.

Ratios for Common Materials found in DC (all are estimates: source)

"Greens"
- Food Scraps= 15:1
- Grass clippings: 19:1
- Fresh (green) tree leaves= 37:1
- Coffee grounds= 20:1
"Browns"
- Shreded cardboard= 563:1
- Coco coir= 90:1
- Newspaper= 170:1
- Sawdust= 625:1