Save your scraps

Green New Year's resolution: Start a compost pile or bin.

Want make your garbage can lighter and your garden greener? Put those kitchen scraps and grass clippings into a compost pile this year. Hardcore green-thumb types have known the value of compost as a natural fertilizer for ages, and new environmentalists are learning the benefits too.

Up to 40% of landfill space is currently hogged by organic matter like yard trimmings and vegetable peels that won't biodegrade inside the time-capsule-like modern garbage receptacles. Instead of tossing those apple cores, coffee grounds, eggshells, and even shredded newspaper, put it into a compost bin of your own.

Check out our recent post on composting for lots of how-to links. The Internet is full of resources and forums where experts can answer your questions. But the basics are pretty simple -- you need organic material in a warm spot, not too damp, watch it, turn it occasionally, and let nature do her magic.

Even apartment dwellers can get in on the act. New York City has a useful site with details about composting in tiny backyards and indoors.

You might want to get a compost bin to make the job easier and tidier too.

Once your scraps have turned into fertilizer, you can use it to enrich your garden and spread it around trees to prevent erosion. You'll reap the rewards in green throughout the new year.