People all over the world have been debating about ways to clean up our planet. Whether that be cutting meat from our diet or using more public transportation (trains, not private automobiles), there are many ways for people to save the environment in individualized and communal ways. One method which many have started to partake in is compost.
What is compost? Compost is organic matter that has decomposed into simpler organic compounds. Otherwise regarded as waste products and thrown in the garbage, these organic materials are recycled, presenting a new way to help rejuvenate our planet’s soil. For one to compost, they would need to gather a mix of “greens” and “browns”. “Green” matter is matter containing a significant amount of nitrogen, including leaves, scraps of food, and grass, among others. “Brown” matter consists mainly of wood-based materials such as paper, wooden stalks, and wood chips, which are all rich in carbon. Once the “brown” and “green” matter are mixed with each other, they are wetted and put together so that the organic materials can break down. While the materials are breaking down, live matter such as fungi and earthworms aid the process by breaking down the materials even more. After around 60 days, compost is ready to use as soil to plant more trees, shrubs, and plants.
Why is compost helpful for the environment? Composting isn’t necessarily beneficial for the environment, but it reduces our ecological footprint as it is better for the environment than throwing food and other matter into the trash. Composting does return valuable nutrients into the soil that help the soil stay fresh and moist, allowing more plants to grow. In addition to adding nutrients into the soil, composting saves people a ton of money. Because composters only need their own crops and soil, they do not have to spend much money while composting. Not only does composting reduce cost and our ecological footprint, but it also reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions around the globe. Composting reduces the amount of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions from the vehicles used to transport waste, which benefits the environment as less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is essential to stopping global warming. Another benefit of composting is that methane gas does not get released into the atmosphere. Methane gas, a gas 21 times more harmful to the environment than Carbon Dioxide, is released in abundance into the atmosphere when organic material in landfills breaks down anaerobically. Since composting gives the matter time to decompose aerobically, minimal amounts of methane are released, consequently benefiting the environment.
Composting is a process that is becoming extremely popular in private homes across the country. The return of valuable nutrients into the soil, helping emit fewer greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, as well as the personal reduction in living cost are all reasons why everyone should try composting, and think about where the leftovers of their food go, whenever they decide to throw it into the trash. Happy Earth Day, and hopefully this article will push you all to begin composting!
