Recycling is one of the most effective ways of cutting down on humanity’s impact on the environment. You probably already recycle but are wondering if there’s more you can do. Well, there is! You may not realize it, but recycling can even include food and similar organic materials!
Also known as composting, recycling your green waste and fruit and vegetable waste comes with several environmental benefits and can even help your garden bloom much more effectively.
Keep reading to find out more about what composting is, why you should be doing it, and how to start composting today.
What Is Composting?
Composting is a natural process that involves recycling organic matter by combining it in one of several types of bins, mixing it, aerating and heating it, and turning it into an all-natural fertilizer. Any natural materials, such as dried leaves and foods, eventually decompose. Composting simply speeds up this process by creating the perfect environment for organisms that help organic materials break down—decomposers such as fungi, worms, and sowbugs—do their jobs. Once the decomposition process is complete, the materials end up looking similar to soil, although the final compost product is much more fertile than ordinary soil.
Compost is extremely rich in nutrients—especially potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus—thanks to all the nutrients leftover from the organic material broken down during the composting process. Food waste, such as vegetables, eggshells, coffee grounds, and fruit peels, and yard waste, such as dried grass clippings and leaves, are the main household items that can be composted. As a result, compost—which is often called “black gold” by those in the agricultural sector—is commonly used as a nutrient-rich fertilizer in agriculture. Fertilizing fruit and vegetable fields with compost made from fruit and vegetable waste makes this process quite cyclical and keeps the carbon exchange local. Farms often make their own compost, known as on-farm compost, but many states and municipalities have begun their own composting programs, and farmers will sometimes source compost from participating organizations.
Composting on a smaller scale, sometimes called backyard composting, is also popular. Practitioners usually use compost to promote growth in their gardens.
Types of Home Composting
When many people refer to composting, it’s typically home composting. That doesn’t mean there’s one way of going about this, however, as there are four types of composting, and each comes with its own benefits. Which one you should use depends on multiple factors:
- Space availability
- The time you’re willing to commit
- How much organic waste you throw out
- What kind of organic waste you produce
Here are the four main types of composting:
Cold composting
Cold composting, also known as anaerobic composting because the materials are starved of oxygen, is the easiest method of composting. While it doesn’t take much effort, it breaks down organic matter slowly. With this method there’s no need to worry about putting in the right amount of each material into the compost pile. Just add organic material as you go and the decomposing organisms will do their job over time.
Cold composting doesn’t need much intervention on your part, aside from adding to the compost pile regularly. If you don’t generate much organic waste, this could be the better method for you, since you can simply throw organic materials in as you generate them. Taking this approach tends to result in a wetter, smellier material, however, whereas with hot composting, the frequent turning and aeration keeps the material fresher.
Another downside of cold composting is that it releases more greenhouse gas emissions as it breaks down than aerobic composting does, particularly methane gas. This method also produces a low concentration of nutrients.
So while cold composting is quite easy compared to other methods, it may not be the most effective.
Hot composting
Though a much faster process than cold composting, hot composting, also known as aerobic composting, requires a lot more effort from you. You’ll need to keep carbon and oxygen levels at the right ratio for the organic waste to decompose quickly. This is achieved by turning the pile, keeping it in a hot, sunny location, and being sure to add the right organic materials, so the right mix of water and air can attract organisms that thrive in an oxygen-rich environment.
When done right, this process eliminates many of the pesticides and herbicides, as well as any larvae and eggs that may have gotten inside the compost pile. The heat generated by decomposition also helps kill harmful bacteria, as well as supporting “the growth of beneficial bacteria species including psychrophilic, mesophilic, and thermophilic bacteria.” The right ratio of brown materials—dried leaves, dried grass, and some paper products—to green materials—fruit and vegetable scraps—is necessary for the organic material to break down during the composting process.
While hot composting requires frequent turning to keep it aerated and help the microbes digest the organic materials, it remains the most effective and popular method of composting.
Vermicomposting
Vermicomposting is a type of composting at home that relies on earthworms feeding on yard scraps and food waste during the composting process. The worms break down the organic matter and the compost material that results can be considered earthworm excrement, though it’s commonly called vermicompost. The process remains the same as both of the above, aside from the introduction of earthworms.
Steeping vermicompost in water overnight and then straining the water out is one effective way to make compost tea. Compost tea is a fun way to get concentrated nutrients into your soil and plants, and you can even use it to water your houseplants.
If you’re wondering where you find earthworms, you can actually get them from many garden centers and even Amazon!
Bokashi composting
Bokashi composting, an Asian method of processing organic wastes, is a unique way of composting at home that doesn’t need much space. You simply need a large pail and a few other tools to do it. Just like other types of compost piles, bokashi composting uses microorganisms to encourage lactic fermentation and an anaerobic approach to break down leaves and food scraps.
Bokashi composting requires “bokashi inoculant—a combination of effective microorganisms, water, and molasses mixed into wheat and bran that can be purchased already prepared.”
If you live in an apartment and you want to recycle your food scraps without the use of earthworms, bokashi composting might be for you.
Toilet composting
A composting toilet is a type of toilet that uses the natural process of decomposition to break down waste and turn it into compost. Unlike traditional flush toilets, composting toilets do not require water or a sewage system. Instead, they use organic matter such as sawdust or peat moss to cover waste, which helps to control odor and accelerate decomposition. The resulting compost can be used as fertilizer for plants or safely disposed of in a landfill.
Composting toilets are a sustainable and environmentally-friendly option for those who want to reduce their water usage and carbon footprint. They are commonly used in remote areas, off-grid homes, and eco-friendly buildings, and can be a great addition to any sustainable household.
What Nutrients Are In Compost?
Compost is heralded as “black gold” because of its high nutrient content. While the exact amount of nutrients varies from sample to sample, it always includes phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. Though these are found in commercial fertilizers, where compost stands out is with its micronutrient makeup, as well as these trace minerals it contains:
- Manganese
- Sulfur
- Zinc
- Carbon
- Iodine
- Magnezium
- Iron
- Calcium
- Copper
- Boron
Mature compost actually does more for the soil than commercial fertilizer because it adds life as well as nutrients. Compost can also regulate moisture, encourage the transfer of microbes to plant roots, improve the soil texture, enrich soil, and regulate acidity levels. The amount of nutrients depends on your compost’s makeup, but the most nutritious compost is made with a mix of brown and green materials, which balances the nitrogen and carbon levels.
What Is Composting Used For?
Compost is typically used in the agriculture sector to promote the growth of plants and crops. When it comes to home composting, however, the material can be put to multiple uses:
Mulch
Using compost as mulch not only makes your garden blossom better and faster, but it also prevents weeds from sprouting. When put down after irrigating your garden, it helps retain moisture, minimizing water needs.
Perennials
Autumn perennials, while beautiful to look at, aren’t especially known for their bloom time. Using compost extends the life of the bloom so you can enjoy your flowers for longer.
Spring bulbs
The same way perennials benefit from compost, so do spring bulbs. When the composting is done right, the material can wake the bulbs from their winter dormancy
Lawn quality
Soil is known to degrade over time, but compost can undo this damage. When applied to your lawn, compost provides the nutrients grass and other plants need to grow, improving color and lushness, so your family and pets will get the most out of your lawn.
Flower beds
Flowers of all kinds benefit from compost’s nutrients, making it a recommended addition to any flower bed.
Environmental Benefits of Composting
The impact composting can have on your garden is just the tip of the iceberg. When compost is added to soil, it improves its health and lessens the risk of erosion and compaction. As a result, productivity, resiliency, and capacity are increased. Not only does this mean that a garden can bloom more effectively, but farmers can also grow more crops with fewer resources.
Beyond gardening and agriculture, however, composting benefits the environment in a number of impactful ways.
Reduces waste
Garden waste and food scraps account for 28% of what we throw out every week, resulting in 400 pounds of food being thrown away per person every year. Not only does this place a burden on the environment, but processing this waste is expensive. In the US, for example, it costs $55 per ton of organic matter thrown out. With over 267 million tonnes of waste being thrown out in the country every year, that’s a lot of money being put to waste—literally.
Cuts methane emissions
Organic matter undergoes aerobic decomposition when it’s left alone. It’s how leaves and similar materials decompose when left untouched by humanity and it’s completely natural. That’s in stark contrast to organic material that ends up in landfills, which is usually cut off from oxygen sources after it’s been buried by thrash.
Such matter goes through anaerobic decomposition, during which it’s broken down by organisms that don’t need oxygen. While this is also a natural way of decomposing, it results in the creation of biogas, which is made up of carbon dioxide and methane. Both of these are greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, further fueling climate change.
Conserves water
Agriculture is one of the largest consumers of water worldwide. In the United States alone, it’s responsible for 80% of water usage. While irrigation systems are effective at distributing this water, they’re expensive and difficult to maintain, with usable water becoming increasingly difficult to obtain.
Composting cuts down on the need for this water by improving the soil’s water retention. An increase of just 1% in organic matter in the soil—like the type found in compost—helps soil retain 20,000 more gallons of water per acre. While compost doesn’t entirely eliminate the need for water in agriculture, it certainly reduces the sheer volume that’s required.
How to Compost at Home
With the various benefits—both environmental and personal—that composting offers, it can be an attractive practice to engage in at home. While the exact steps to backyard composting can vary slightly depending on which method you apply, the process can be surprisingly simple.
1. Select and store your scraps
Not all compostable materials are made equal, so you’ll need to put some effort into choosing the right ones for your compost pile. Fruits and vegetables are almost always safe for composting, as well as coffee grounds, tea bags, and egg shells. It’s worth noting, however, that “compostable” products like bags and wipes are best suited to industrial composting rather than home composting. It’s not worth including them in your compost pile.
Once you’ve picked what you’ll be composting, you’ll need somewhere to store them. You’ll have to store some of your food scraps before adding them to the mix, such as in the fridge or freezer, to avoid any bad smells or pests.
2. Pick somewhere to make your compost
It’s essential that you choose the right place for your compost pile. It can be a messy process and usually involves an odor, so you should make sure you choose somewhere well ventilated to place your compost bin. An outdoor space a good distance from your home is best.
Depending on how many people are in the house, the right compost bin can vary in size. For a household of between one and four, a bin between 15 and 20 cubic feet should be enough.
3. Make the mix
When you’re composting, you’ll hear a lot about “greens” and “browns.” These are the main materials in your compost, with greens being food scraps and browns referring to dried leaves, egg cartons, and similar items. Your greens are responsible for releasing the compost’s nitrogen, while the browns are responsible for releasing carbon, with both gases being vital to composting.
You should layer these in a particular way—browns, greens, browns, greens—so that the carbon and nitrogen can interact and break down your materials properly. Greens release moisture as they decompose, while browns stay dry, so having more browns than greens is recommended because the browns will soak up any excess moisture.
If you’re hot composting, you can put in all of your materials at once, although it’ll need more maintenance over time. With cold, you can put in your materials as you get them until your compost bin is full or the organic matter or compost heap breaks down.
4. Wait and aerate
Now it’s time to wait for your materials to decompose and turn into finished compost. How long you need to wait depends on whether you’re using hot or cold composting. With cold, it could take between three and six months before the compost is ready. Hot, however, can take as little as two months.
While waiting for your hot compost to develop, you’ll need to aerate the compost pile regularly. Though there are compost tumblers that let you do this by simply turning the compost bin upside down, you can do so manually with a pitchfork. Turn it over as you would a salad, and you’re done.
5. Apply to your garden
Applying finished compost to your soil can be slightly complicated, depending on what you’re specifically using it for. Typically, you should mix one to two inches of compost in with the first inch or two of your soil or flower bed. If you’re looking to rejuvenate your lawn, however, you should mix the compost in with the first three to five inches. Taking this approach will make sure the soil and any plants or flowers you have get the nutrients they need.
How to Tell When Compost Is Finished
When you’re composting, you need to make sure the process is finished before using the matter on anything. Immature compost can continue decomposing once it’s been added to the soil, which can degrade your soil even further and attract pests to your home. Since how long it takes for organic materials can depend on the type of composting and what you’re adding to the compost pile, figuring out when it’s finished can be difficult.
It doesn’t need to be, however. Finished compost has a similar look, texture, and smell as dark earth. Determining this shouldn’t be difficult, as it’ll more resemble rotting vegetables in the weeks leading up to this, since that’s essentially what it is. The closer the compost is to resembling dark soil, the closer it is to being finished.
What Can You Compost?
Almost anything that comes from the ground can be composted, with leaves, fruits, potato peels, and vegetables being the most obvious compostable materials, as well as a number of additional compostable materials:
- Cardboard, uncoated and cut up into small pieces
- Hair and fur
- Shredded newspapers
- Yard waste
- Grass clippings
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Eggshells
- Sawdust
- Tea bags
- Wood chips
- Food scraps
What Should You Avoid Composting?
There are a few natural materials that you shouldn’t compost, however, including dairy products and eggs, as these can add an unwanted odor to your compost pile and attract the wrong sort of organisms to your compost pile. Diseased or insect-ridden plants should also be avoided. Not only could these diseases or insects spread to the other organic materials, but they’ll interfere in the composting process.
Pet waste and litter should be avoided, as these can include pathogens and parasites. Applying these materials to soil where plants, such as fruits and vegetables, will be grown can lead to diseases in anybody who consumes the food.
There are also a few specific items you must remember either cannot be composted or shouldn’t be composted often:
- Colored or glossy paper
- Dairy, meat, or other animal products
- Black walnut tree leaves and twigs, as these can excrete toxins
- Coal or charcoal ash
- Plastic
- Bread
- Cooking oils
- Rice
- Acidic fruits and vegetables, such as citrus
Should You Be Composting? Wrapping Up
As you can see, the benefits of composting are many. Composting is an effective, easy, and affordable way of improving how your garden looks while reducing your environmental impact. Not only does it cut down on your food waste and food scraps, which is something consumers should always be on the lookout for, but it also offers multiple benefits for the environment.
With a little effort, it’s a practice that almost anyone can engage in, so what are you waiting for? Start composting today!