Green Queen Compost
Q: Hi Green Queen! Got a question for you. I’m recycling all the paper, plastic, glass and aluminum I can and I’ve managed to reduce my trash quite a bit. But I’m still throwing away food and would like to start composting. Trouble is, I don’t know how. Do you just throw it in pile and let nature take its course? (That sounds kinda smelly to me, but what do I know?) Help!
Answer: First off, excellent job on the recycling there! According to a study by environmentalists at the University of Colorado, the average adult is responsible for the creation of more than 9,000 pounds of garbage over a lifetime. But by recycling, you can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide you’re responsible for by more than 850 pounds. (http://recycling.colorado.edu/education_and_outreach/recycling_facts.html)
That said, you’re right to be concerned about the food waste you’re throwing away. The decomposition of organic materials in landfills produces methane gas, which is 23 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon. (http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?a=111051&c=41789)
The answer? As you guessed, it’s home composting.
When we compost our organic waste rather than throw it in the trash, we create nutrient rich soil additives that will make anything we grow healthier without the use of chemicals.
The old fashioned way was to make a big pile somewhere on your property, but you’re right—that can get smelly pretty fast. Worse, it’s likely to attract insects and rodents.
Luckily there are a whole host of modern, high-tech alternatives to the compost heap.
The Worm Factory® worm bin (http://www.homecompostingsolutions.com/product/WB3T-GRN-0) bills itself as “the only composter proven to work indoors with NO FOUL SMELL.” Emphasis theirs, but you can understand why they’d be so excited! Basically, you get your hands on a bunch of Eisenia fetida, or “red wiggler” worms as they’re more commonly known (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenia_foetida) and mix them in with the organic waste you want to get rid of. And then, as if by magic, the worms turn that gunky garbage into dark, rich, delicious dirt! Well, delicious if you’re a plant.
Another alternative is an outdoor rotating bin composter like the Envirocycle Composter/Composteamaker (http://www.consumersearch.com/compost-bins/envirocycle-compostercomposteamaker) that got high marks by consumers for its ease of use and small footprint. Here, you dump in your organic waste and give the bin a spin every once in a while. In a couple of months, you’ll have fabulous compost for your home garden or house plants.
And when you start, remember that pretty much all organic waste is compostable, including meat, bones, leftover Chinese food, wilted cut flowers and even pet waste!
Good luck and Keep Acting Green!
The Green Queen