Composting
The natural process of decomposing organic matter (food scraps, yard waste, paper) into nutrient-rich soil amendment. Composting diverts waste from landfills and reduces methane emissions while creating valuable fertilizer.
About 30% of what we throw away could be composted instead of going to landfills. When organic matter decomposes in landfills without oxygen, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than CO2 over 20 years. Composting aerobically (with oxygen) avoids this methane production entirely.
Types of Composting
Backyard composting uses a bin or pile in your yard. It handles fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, yard trimmings, and shredded paper. Vermicomposting uses worms (typically red wigglers) in indoor bins, perfect for apartments. Bokashi composting uses fermentation and can handle meat and dairy that traditional composting cannot. Municipal composting programs accept food waste curbside and process it at industrial scale.
The Impact
If every American household composted, it would be equivalent to removing 7.8 million cars from the road. Finished compost improves soil structure, increases water retention by up to 20%, reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, and sequesters carbon in the soil. A single household composting bin diverts about 200-400 pounds of organic waste from landfills per year.
Getting Started
You don't need special equipment to start composting. A simple pile with alternating layers of "greens" (nitrogen-rich: food scraps, grass clippings) and "browns" (carbon-rich: dry leaves, cardboard, paper) will decompose in 2-6 months. Keep it moist but not wet, turn it occasionally, and you'll have rich, dark compost that plants love.
Related Terms
Circular Economy
An economic system designed to eliminate waste and keep resources in use for as long as possible. Products are designed for durability, reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling, replacing the traditional linear 'take-make-dispose' model.
Sustainability
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It encompasses environmental protection, social equity, and economic viability, often represented as three interconnected pillars.
Zero Waste
A philosophy and design framework aimed at eliminating waste by rethinking how resources flow through society. The goal is to ensure all products are reused, repaired, recycled, or composted, sending nothing to landfills or incinerators.