Container Gardens
COMPOSTING
Recycling has become more routine in our daily living. The trash companies are now requiring in many areas that we separate from our regular trash the stuff that can be recycled. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that yard waste and food residuals combine to constitute 23% of the country’s waste stream. The planet will become a better place to live as we learn to recycle this food and yard waste.
The EPA estimated that in 2006 residents, businesses, and institutions produced more than 251 million tons of public solid waste in the United States. That is approximately 4.6 lbs of waste per person per day! 32.5% of yard and food waste was recovered for recycling or composting which prevented the release of approximately 49.7 million metric tons of carbon into the air (about the same amount emitted annually by 39 million cars).
If you want to be a part of improving our planet’s environment, then consider limiting the amount of organic waste put into your trash can by composting.
What is composting? Basically, composting is nature’s own recycling process. Anytime a plant dies, its remains are attacked by microorganisms and insects in the natural environment. When the plant has fully decomposed, valuable nutrients are recycled into the newly produced humus or compost.
There are two types of composting. Hot composting is an active composting process that can be completed in as little as two weeks. By maintaining a proper balance of required elements, the hot composting process is the most efficient use of organic waste. To keep the composting active requires the following:
- Aeration: By turning the compost pile on a regular basis, you introduce oxygen into the process. The more oxygen the faster the decomposition.
- Moisture: Keeping the compost wet, but not too wet will keep the process active.
- Carbon and Nitrogen Balance: A good balance of yard waste and organic (food, etc.) will also help to maintain the process.
Cold composting (or passive composting) will produce the same results as hot composting, but will take longer. Instead of having a useful compost pile in a few weeks, it will take a few months. The problem is having it become too large. You accomplish the same thing of keeping your yard and food waste out of the local landfill, it’s just a slower process.
Leaves, grass clippings, dead or dying plants, and much of our food waste can be thrown into the pile. You can help keep our planet healthy by creating your own compost.
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