As covered in Week 35 of our climate action of the week tips, there are many benefits to composting at home. Now is the perfect time to revisit this idea especially if you live in California because as of January 1 it became the law for Californians to compost.
Next time you consider throwing something down the garbage disposal, consider adding it to your compost pile instead. This will reduce the amount of energy and water used over time to operate the garbage disposal. It will also create less strain on your pipes.
There are additional benefits to choosing to compost instead of using the garbage disposal. First off, there are certain items you simply can’t put down the garbage disposal, such as an avocado pit, but you can dispose of in your compost pile. In addition, when food scraps end up getting composted, no methane is produced, and methane is one of the worst greenhouse gases: Methane is 80 times more potent at warming than carbon dioxide. And finally, you can improve soil quality through composting. None of these benefits can occur when simply using the garbage disposal.
If you live in an apartment, composting can be done either on an outdoor balcony or indoors. Two suggested ways to compost are either aerobic composting or vermicomposting. Aerobic composting is where organic matter is decomposed by microorganisms. You will need a decent compost container to get started - check out this blog for step-by-step instructions about how to set it up. Vermicomposting may sound a bit more intimidating because it involves worms, but it doesn’t smell and is quicker than traditional composting, making it a great option for an apartment. Here are some instructions from the EPA about how to set up an indoor vermicompost.
And finally, here is a simple list from the EPA of food that can be composted:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Crushed eggshells
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Tea bags
- Nut shells
- Shredded newspaper
- Shredded cardboard
- Shredded paper
- Yard trimmings
- Grass clippings
- Houseplants
- Hay and straw
- Leaves
- Sawdust
- Wood chips
- Hair and fur
- Fireplace ashes
And here is a list of items that should never go in the compost:
- Black walnut tree leaves or twigs
- Coal or charcoal ash
- Dairy products (e.g., butter, milk, sour cream, yogurt) and eggs*
- Diseased or insect-ridden plants
- Fats, grease, lard, or oils*
- Meat or fish bones and scraps*
- Pet wastes (e.g., dog or cat feces, soiled cat litter)*
- Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides
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