Have you ever thought about what happens to all the unsold food at the grocery stores? Or what happens to the food you throw in the trash at home?
In Michigan, the typical four person household throws away $1,600 worth of food every year into landfills. That equals out to every one of us throwing away a pound of food a day. In fact, 25% of all the waste in our landfills is food.
Michigan is working to reduce our impact on the environment by wasting less and finding other ways to get rid of our things such as food. Together as a state, we are looking to reduce food waste sent to landfills by 50%.
So, if we are not sending all that food to landfills, what do we do with it?
What is Compost?
Compost is rich soil we get from recycling materials such as yard waste and food scraps. The process is fueled by microorganisms like bacteria and fungi. Piles of compost will heat up during this process to help break down plants and food from debris to a soil full of nutrients.
What can I Compost?
Compostable materials are broken down into two categories: browns and greens.
- Greens– nitrogen rich materials, often more green plant type items
- Grass
- Egg shells
- Fruit & vegetables
- Tea & coffee grounds
- Animal manure
- Browns– carbon rich materials, often more woody type items
- Dry leaves
- Cardboard
- Waste paper
- Wood shavings
- Straw
- Hay
For the best results, compost items should be added to your compost pile in equal parts brown and greens.
What Should I Not Compost?
- Black walnut tree leaves or twigs (harmful to plants)
- Coal or charcoal ash (harmful to plants)
- Dairy products (creates odor and attracts rodents)
- Disease or insect-ridden plants (harmful to plants)
- Fats, grease, lard, and oils (creates odor & attracts rodents)
- Meat/fish bones & scraps (creates odor & attracts rodents)
- Pet wastes (harmful to humans)
- Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides (might kill beneficial composting organisms)
Benefits of Compost:
Keeps our air cleaner– food waste accounts for 58% of the methane gasses released from the landfills.
Reduces waste – the less we send to landfills, the less need we have to build new landfills in the future.
Builds soil health – compost holds more water during droughts, adds nutrients that are needed to grow plants back to the soils, and reduces the need for fertilizers and pesticides.
How to Compost at Home:
- Choose a spot: Pick a dry, shady spot in your yard or use a compost bin.
- Gather your materials: Collect your brown and green items. It may be easier to collect in two separate bins to make it easier to mix in even amounts.
- Mix: Mix in about one part green for every one part brown.
- Turn it: To speed up the process, you can mix up the compost every month or so.
- Wait and Watch: With time, your pile will break down into a dark soil, ready for your garden!
So whether you love to garden and want to make that rich treat for your plants, or want to reduce your landfilled material, you can start composting as early as today right in your backyard!
Thank you for tuning in about compost today, until next time!
~Kalli
