Are you looking for ways to reduce your impact on the environment?
Recycling is a great place to start, but have you considered composting as well?
Composting is an easy and effective way to turn waste into nutrient-rich soil. However, not all waste is created equal when it comes to composting. In this blog post, we will explore the 7 types of compostable waste that you should be recycling to create healthy soil for your garden and reduce landfill waste. From food scraps to yard trimmings, let's dive into the world of composting!
What is Compostable Waste?
When we think about recycling, we often think about items like paper, plastic, and glass. However, there is another type of recycling that is just as important – composting. Compostable waste includes things like food scraps, yard waste, and even some types of paper.
Composting is the process of breaking down organic material into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. This is done by microorganisms like bacteria and fungi that eat away at the organic matter. The result is dark, crumbly soil that is full of nutrients that can be used to help plants grow.
There are many benefits to composting. It reduces the amount of waste that goes into landfills, cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions, and helps improve the quality of the soil. Plus, it’s a great way to reduce your impact on the environment.
If you’re interested in composting, there are a few things you should know. First, not all organic materials can be composted. For example, meat and dairy products should not be added to your compost pile because they will attract animals and create a nasty smell. Second, you need to make sure your compost pile has the right ratio of brown materials (like dead leaves) to green materials (like fruit and vegetable scraps). And finally, you need to make sure your compost pile stays moist – but not too wet – so that the microorganisms can do their job.
Benefits of Recycling Compostable Waste
When it comes to composting, there are many benefits to recycling your waste. For one, it reduces the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), food scraps and yard waste make up more than 28 per cent of what is sent to landfills each year.
In addition to reducing landfill waste, recycling your compostable waste also helps to create a nutrient-rich soil amendment. This means that when you add compost to your garden or flower beds, you are adding valuable nutrients that will help your plants grow. Compost can also be used as a natural fertilizer for lawns.
Another benefit of recycling compostable waste is that it helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Food scraps and other organic materials release methane gas when they decompose in landfills. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. By recycling your food scraps and other organic waste, you can help reduce methane emissions and do your part to slow down climate change.
Types of Compostable Waste
Organic waste, such as food scraps and yard waste, is compostable. Paper products, like newspaper and cardboard, can also be composted. Some types of plastics are compostable, too.
When you put these items in your compost bin, they will eventually break down into a nutrient-rich soil amendment that can be used to improve the health of your garden.
The key to successful composting is to balance the browns (carbon-rich materials) with the greens (nitrogen-rich materials). Too much of either one will make the process take longer or produce an unpleasant odour.
Here are some examples of common compostable items:
Food Scraps: Vegetable peels, fruit cores, coffee grounds, eggshells
Yard Waste: Grass clippings, leaves, twigs, straw
Paper Products: Newspaper, paper towels, cardboard
plastics: Compostable shopping bags, and food containers made from PLA
- Food Waste
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, food waste is the single largest type of waste in the United States. Each year, Americans throw away approximately 40 per cent of the food they purchase. That’s a lot of wasted money and resources!
While it may be tempting to just toss your food scraps in the trash, did you know that food waste is compostable? Composting is the process of breaking down organic matter, like food scraps, into a nutrient-rich soil amendment that can be used to improve your garden or potted plants.
Not sure how to get started? Here’s a quick guide to composting your food waste:
1. Start with a clean, dry container with a tight-fitting lid. You can use a commercial compost bin or even just a large plastic garbage can. Drill several holes in the bottom of your container for drainage.
2. Add a layer of brown materials, such as dried leaves, shredded newspaper, or wood chips. This will help aerate your compost pile and encourage decomposition.
3. Add a layer of green materials, such as fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and grass clippings. Be sure to chop or shred larger pieces so they decompose more quickly.
4. Repeat layers until your container is full, then cover with a lid or piece of burlap to keep out pests and excessive moisture. Every few days, turn your compost pile with
- Paper Products
When it comes to composting, there are a few different types of paper products that can be recycled. Here are the most common types of paper products that can be composted:
-Newspapers: Newspapers can be composted, but they should be shredded first. This will help them break down more quickly in the compost pile.
-Magazines: Magazines can also be composted, but like newspapers, they should be shredded first.
-Paper towels and toilet paper rolls: These can be composted as well, but they will take longer to break down than other types of paper.
-Cardboard: Cardboard can be recycled into compost, but it should be broken down into small pieces first. Otherwise, it will take much longer to decompose.
- Yard and Garden Waste
Organic waste from your yard and garden makes up a large portion of compostable waste. This includes leaves, grass clippings, and small twigs. You can also compost things like fruit and vegetable scraps, as well as coffee grounds and eggshells. All of these items can be added to your compost pile or bin and will break down over time into nutrient-rich compost that can be used to fertilize your plants and gardens.
Yard and garden waste make up a large part of the organic waste stream. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), yard trimmings and food scraps together account for more than 28 per cent of the solid waste in landfills. That’s why it’s important to recycle this type of waste whenever possible.
There are many benefits to recycling yard and garden waste. For one, it reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. And because organic material decomposes quickly in a landfill, it can release methane gas – a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
Recycling yard and garden waste also helps improve the quality of the soil in your yard or garden. When you add compost to your soil, it helps retain moisture and provides nutrients that plants need to grow. Composting also reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, which can pollute waterways.
If you have a backyard or even just a small patio or balcony, you can easily set up a
- Cardboard and Boxes
When it comes to composting, cardboard and boxes are some of the most versatile materials you can work with. Here are a few tips on how to recycle them:
-Break down cardboard boxes so they take up less space in your compost bin.
-If you have a lot of cardboard, shred it or tear it into smaller pieces to speed up the composting process.
-You can also use cardboard as mulch around your plants. Simply lay it down on top of the soil and allow it to break down over time.
-Avoid using wax-coated or glossy cardboard, as this can slow down the composting process.
- Textiles and Cloth Items
There are many types of textiles and cloth items that can be recycled. Here are some examples:
-Clothes: Clothing can be recycled through donation or resale.
-Sheets and towels: old sheets and towels can be used as rags for cleaning or gardening.
-Carpeting and upholstery: Carpeting and upholstery can be recycled through speciality recycling programs.
-Draperies: Draperies can be reused donated, or recycled through speciality programs.
- Animal Manure or Bedding Material
Animal manure and bedding material are both excellent sources of compostable waste. Manure contains high levels of nutrients that can be beneficial to plants, while bedding material provides a variety of organic matter that can help improve soil structure.
When collecting animal manure or bedding material for composting, it is important to ensure that the material is free of chemicals or other contaminants. Manure from healthy animals that have not been treated with antibiotics or hormones is best. Bedding material should be collected from clean, dry areas to avoid introducing any contaminants into the compost pile.
Once collected, animal manure and bedding material can be added directly to a compost pile or bin. If adding fresh manure to a bin, it is best to mix it with other materials to help balance the high nitrogen content. Too much fresh manure can cause odours and attract pests, so it is important to follow the proper ratios when adding it to a compost pile.
- Wood Chips, Sawdust and Shavings
Wood chips, sawdust and shavings are all excellent types of compostable waste that you should recycle. They are all full of nutrients that can help your plants grow, and they also help to aerate the soil.
Wood chips are the largest of the three, and they take the longest to break down. Sawdust is much finer, and it breaks down more quickly. Shavings are the smallest and most broken-down form of wood waste.
All three types of wood waste can be used in your compost bin, or you can add them directly to your garden beds. If you have a lot of wood waste, you may want to invest in a chipper/shredder to make them easier to handle.
How to Properly Dispose of Compostable Waste?
When it comes to composting, not all materials are created equal. While some items can be thrown directly into your compost bin without a second thought, others need to be handled with care to ensure they break down properly. Compostable waste is one of those materials that needs to be treated with a bit more caution.
So, what exactly is compostable waste? Compostable waste is made up of organic material that can be broken down by microorganisms into nutrient-rich compost. This includes things like fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, and yard waste. While these items are all great for your compost pile, they need to be disposed of properly to ensure they break down correctly.
Here are a few tips on how to properly dispose of your compostable waste:
-Keep it moist: Compostable waste should be kept moist to break down properly. If it’s too dry, it won’t decompose as quickly. Too much moisture, on the other hand, can lead to mould and mildew growth.
-Chop it up: Smaller pieces of compostable waste will break down more quickly than larger ones. If you’re throwing in big chunks of vegetable scraps or coffee grounds, consider chopping them up into smaller pieces before adding them to your bin.
-Add some air: For microorganisms to do their job, they need oxygen. Make sure your compost
Conclusion:
By embracing composting as a regular practice, we can make a positive impact on the environment while creating nutrient-rich soil to support healthy plant growth. So, join the composting movement today and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come.
