• To learn more about using compost, click here.
• Dig compost in. If you are creating a new bed, spread 2 to 4 inches of compost over the soil and then dig it into the top 6 to 12 inches of the bed. If you are putting in individual plants, dig a hole that is as deep as the rootball and 3 times wider than it. Rough up the sides of the hole. Mix 1 part compost with 2 to 3 parts soil to backfill the hole after putting the plant in.

Finished compost should be dark and crumbly with a sweet earthy smell. Generally, you shouldn't be able to identify the original materials you added to the pile — those broccoli stems and leafy greens should have "disappeared," although egg shells and woody materials can persist. You can use a wire mesh screen to sift the compost and return the larger pieces back to your compost pile.

If you only have room for one bin, harvest finished compost from the bottom of the pile and keep layering fresh material on top of the pile. Some compost bins have a door at the bottom for easy harvesting. With other bins, use a pitchfork to scoop out the actively composting material into a pile until you reach the finished compost. Fork out the finished compost into a wheel barrow. Return the active pile into your bin. This can be a bit of work, but it's a great way to turn your pile while reaping the benefit of finished compost.

No. Don't add pet waste because it can carry harmful pathogens.

You may have too much brown, carbon-rich material. try adding more greens — nitrogen rich materials, such as food waste or fresh grass clippings. Check the moisture of your pile, it may be too dry. Add water until the pile is slightly damp and turn.

Yes and no. If you are hot composting, the hot temperature of the pile will kill weed seeds. If you are more of a laid-back composter, it is best to avoid weeds that have gone to seed. In general, it is best to avoid noxious weeds in the compost pile and instead place them in your green waste cart.

A pile heats up because of the activity of the decomposers (bacteria, fungi, and bigger creatures such as sow bugs and worms), not because of the heat from the sun. It is best to place your bin out of direct sunlight so that the pile doesn't dry out too quickly.

Although meet and dairy products are compostable, you shouldn't put them in your home composting bin because they can attract flies, rodents and other pests.

Large-scale composting facilities that process the food waste from curbside collection programs are designed and managed to handle all food waste, including meat and dairy.

It is best to put your backyard bin directly on the soil and out of the direct sun. Placing it on the soil (instead of concrete) allows decomposers easy access to the pile. Direct sun can dry out a pile and require more careful monitoring of the moisture. Over time the sun can also damage the integrity of a plastic bin. Most important is to place your bin in a convenient location that allows for easy access and use.