Composting is the process of recycling organic matter, such as food scraps and leaves, into a valuable fertilizer that can enrich soil and plants. It is a controlled, aerobic process that converts organic materials into a nutrient-rich soil amendment or mulch through natural decomposition. The process involves decomposing organic material into a humus-like material, known as compost, which is a good fertilizer for plants. Composting is an important part of waste management, as food and other compostable materials make up about 20% of waste in landfills, and due to anaerobic conditions, these materials take longer to biodegrade in the landfill. Composting offers an environmentally superior alternative to using organic material for landfill because composting reduces methane emissions due to anaerobic conditions, and provides economic and environmental co-benefits.
Benefits of composting include:
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Reduces the Waste Stream: Composting is a great way to recycle the organic waste generated at home. Food scraps and garden waste combined make up more than 28% of what we throw away. Not only is food waste a significant burden on the environment, but processing it is costly.
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Cuts Methane Emissions From Landfills: When organic matter decomposes, it undergoes aerobic decomposition, meaning that it’s broken down by microorganisms that require oxygen. When compostable waste goes to a landfill, it gets buried under massive amounts of other waste, which creates anaerobic conditions. This causes the organic matter to break down through anaerobic decomposition, which produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Composting diverts organic waste from landfills, reducing methane emissions.
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Improves Soil Quality: Compost is a nutrient-rich soil amendment that can improve soil quality, support plant growth, and build resilience in local ecosystems and communities.
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Saves Money: Composting at home allows us to divert some of the waste from landfills and turn it into something practical for our yards. This can save money on waste management costs.
Composting involves minimal effort, equipment, expense, and expertise, and can be done at home using food scraps from the kitchen and dry leaves and woody material from the yard. To compost successfully, microorganisms require four equally important ingredients: carbon, nitrogen, water, and oxygen. Attaining composting temperatures is key to successful composting, and the composting microorganisms operate best in a warm, damp, well-aerated environment.
