Composting 101
Composting is something that anyone can do. And it’s important! The breakdown of organic matter and the creation of soil is the basis for all life on earth. In NYC, food waste accounts for 1/3 of all waste sent to the landfill. This costs the city money, and it costs the earth resources. Read more about NYC’s attempts at zero waste and city-wide composting in this NY Times article.
Why should I compost?
When food waste goes to a landfill, it gets covered up and deprived of oxygen. When organic matter does not have the proper environment to break down, it creates methane, which is a more potent greenhouse gas than CO2. This means that by composting and encouraging other to do so, you are playing an important part in helping slow the climate crisis.
What is compost?
It is decomposed organic matter. It needs water, oxygen and the proper temperatures to properly break down. This means that in a compost bin or composting facility, it needs to be manually aerated. All compost bins will contain different ratios of natural microorganisms such as bacteria, fungus and protozoa. Worms can also help with the breakdown of material. More information on this here.
How can I start composting?
If you live in NYC like I do, you can bring your compost to one of the many drop off sites that is hosted by GrowNYC. There are also several composting initiatives around the city that are backed by the Department of Sanitation of NYC. There is also a bike-powered food waste pick up called BK Rot which works with restaurants and businesses and sells the compost (aka fertile soil) that they create. There is a lot happening in NYC in terms of composting and it’s very heartening to learn about.
Helpful hint * I put my compost in the freezer during the week until the drop off day on Saturday at the Prospect Park farmer’s market. This way it doesn’t smell or take up precious counter space!
If you live in another city, my best advice is to google “your city + compost” and I think most cities have some sort of composting set up. I found this for my California people.
If you live in the suburbs or a rural area and you have a yard, you can have your own compost bin! There is a wide variety, from bins that you turn to creating your own from wood planks (we always had one of these growing up at my house, and got frequent visits from black bears as a result)!
What can I compost?
According to the GrowNYC website, accepted materials include:
fruit and vegetable scraps
non-greasy food scraps (rice, pasta, bread, cereal etc.)
coffee grounds & filters
tea bags
egg and nut shells
pits
cut or dried flowers
houseplants
potting soil
soiled brown paper products
What can I NOT compost?
meat, chicken, fish
greasy food scraps
fat/oil
dairy
animal waste, litter or bedding
coal or charcoal
coconuts
diseased and/or insect-infested houseplants/soil
biodegradable/compostable plastics
receipts
A word about “compostable plastics.” Often people see something that is compostable and we think all our consumption based guilt is solved. Unfortunately, no! Often these plastic get seen as real plastic when the compost is being sorted out at the composting facilities and the bin of compost is then contaminated, or they contaminate a recycling bin because they also cannot be recycled the way plastic can. The other thing is that if those are thrown into the trash and go to a landfill they will likely create methane just like food breaking down in a landfill. Rendering it completely useless. Additionally, let’s think about what is used to make these products: most of them are made of corn, a highly pesticide sprayed, gmo monocrop. As always, the solution is just to consume less and/or bring your own container.
Composting is beneficial to the earth on many levels, it reduces global methane levels thus slowing global warming, reduces landfill usage, and the end product is nutrient rich soil which can then help to grow plants which will trap CO2, thus reducing global warming further! If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments section!
