Compost Chronicle: What are your Options?
With spring in full swing, many of you may be thinking about longer days, time outside, and planting gardens. Whether you are an avid gardener or just have a few plants around the house, you may want to consider adding composting to your waste diversion routine! This means that the banana peels, coffee grounds, and vegetable scraps you throw out every day don’t need to keep going to the landfill.
It’s a common misconception that organics will break down in the landfill the same way they break down in compost. However, landfilling organics is an anaerobic process (there’s no oxygen), resulting in methane gas emissions, a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Not to mention the infrastructure required to landfill all of those organics (which make up a fifth of all landfilled material!). All of this to say, composting or rot is just another “R” to add to our waste reduction strategies. Interested in getting started with composting? There’s an option for everyone!
Traditional/Backyard Compost
Traditional composting in a backyard compost pile can be extremely low maintenance - organic materials added to a compost pile will eventually break down to produce soil with little turning or other work, but they also take up quite a bit of space and it will be a long time before you see a compost yield. If you have a lot of space and are looking for an easy but slower process, this may be for you! There are many online resources that can provide guidance on starting a compost pile.
There are several other options for backyard composting that may require some outdoor space, but will yield compost quicker or keep the compost more confined. There are options for underground composting (burying your organics), compost bins or barrels that rotate to circulate air, and many other unique options. If you’re interested in these options, look into continuous composters, batch composters, and underground composting for more resources.
Vermi-Composting
Vermi-composting, or “worm composting”, is an indoor option for quick compost with minimal space. There are many online resources to help you set up a vermicomposting system, like this one. While it may feel weird to keep a bin of worms in a corner of your home at first, it’s a quick composting process great for small spaces and has less odor than your trash can would!
Queen City Commons Composting Services at the Hub!
If any form of composting in your yard or house is not in the cards right now, never fear! The Hub is now partnering with Queen City Commons to offer collection bins for compostable items right at the Hub. This is a paid service, but can cost as little as $5 a month. Learn more about this option on our composting page.
A Note on “Electric Composters”
You may have seen a recent trend advertising electric “composters”. These compact appliances are pricey, but boast the ability to compost food scraps in a matter of hours. Be aware that these appliances do not compost - they dehydrate organic scraps, but do not produce compost that can be used as a soil additive. While this may still be a good option for you, do your research so you know what you’re paying for!
Ultimately, there are a multitude of different composting options for you. No matter your budget, the size of your home, or the time and effort you are able to invest, there’s a way you can reduce the organic waste you send to the landfill! And remember, reducing landfill waste starts with reducing the amount of waste you produce in the first place - try to reduce the food you throw away and focus composting efforts on scraps that simply can’t be eaten. We’d love to hear about your composting journey - tell us what you’re doing below!