Compost

Summary: Compost your food and reduce your waste and greenhouse emissions

Description

Composting your food waste, yard trimmings, and leaves is an easy and affordable way to reduce your household's contribution of greenhouse gases. Over 51% of the trash that goes to landfills is organic and compostable. Anerobic decomposition of organic materials in a landfill generates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Aerobic decomposition or composting, yields nutrient rich soil amendment (compost) or mulch with significantly less methane emission.  As of 2018, 63% of yard trimmings were composted but only 4.1% of food waste.

References: 

National Overview: Facts and Figures on Materials, Wastes and Recycling | US EPA

Reducing the Impact of Wasted Food by Feeding the Soil and Composting | US EPA

Along with lowering methane emissions, composting can reduce your household’s trash disposal costs, and potentially yield organic-rich compost for use in your garden beds.

Home composting is different from commercial composting.  In home composting nitrogen-rich material including fruit and vegetable scraps, grass clippings and yard trim, coffee grounds and paper filters, paper tea bags (without staples), and eggshells are layered with carbon-rich materials such as dry leaves, plant stalks and twigs, shredded paper and brown bags, shredded cardboard, and untreated wood chips.  The resulting pile is turned periodically through the process.

 For more information on composting, click “Steps To Take” and “Deep Dive” on the tabs above.

Deep Dive

What if keeping the correct balance of nitrogen rich and carbon rich materials and regular turning of the pile is too overwhelming?

Cold Composting is another option, but it is an anerobic process and thus has higher methane generation.  From a sustainability perspective hot composting is much preferred. The Almanac describes cold composting: How to Compost: A Guide to Composting at Home | The Old Farmer's Almanac

Can I compost if I live in an apartment?

Yes! A space saving option is vermicomposting, or indoor composting with worms. You can make your own bin or purchase one that has added convenience features through retailers. It is simple to do and makes a fun science project for children! Read more at Vermicomposting for Beginners - Rodale Institute.

References:

1)    EPA:

Composting At Home | US EPA

Reducing the Impact of Wasted Food by Feeding the Soil and Composting | US EPA

2)  EPA facts and figures:

National Overview: Facts and Figures on Materials, Wastes and Recycling | US EPA

3)  Rodale Institute:

Vermicomposting for Beginners - Rodale Institute

4) The Old Farmer's Almanac:

How to Compost: A Guide to Composting at Home | The Old Farmer's Almanac

Steps to Take

Step 1: Read up on the basics of composting from EPA.

Step 2: Decide on the method of composting that best meets your needs.

Step 3: Use a small bucket on your countertop or other covered containers to collect your food scraps and empty them regularly into your yard compost bin. These are nitrogen rich materials.  Please note that meat and bones are not suitable for home composting.

Step 4: Save some of your fall leaves or torn newspapers and to layer into your pile as a source of carbon rich material.

Step 5: Follow the recommended layering techniques of nitrogen rich materials and carbon rich materials and be sure to turn the pile appropriately.

Step 6: Happy Composting!

Alternatively:

The Littleton Transfer Station accepts leaves, grass clippings and brush/logs. The material does not need to be in compostable bags. Check the town website to make sure that they are currently accepting yard waste for composting.

Consider curbside pickup options. Commercial composting organizations can accept materials which should not be composted at home such as meat, grease, and bones.