Why Compost?

Go green! Buy organic! Compost your trash! These messages and messages like them are constantly thrown in our faces by movie stars, the news, and magazine articles. "Okay," we say, "But why?" We know we should do these things, but no one has told us why. Well, I am here to answer the not-so age-old question, Why compost?

First of all, what is compost? Compost is really nothing more than decomposed plant and animal materials that are decomposed through aerobic decomposition and turned into a very rich dark soil. This rich soil cannot be beat and is great for many uses, including use as a soil conditioner and fertilizer. Compost soil is 100% organic.

There are many benefits to composting, the main one being that it is beneficial to the environment. Coffee grinds, egg shells, and fruit rinds are great for composting because they decompose and go back into the soil, making it even more nutrient-rich and healthy than before. This process also helps eliminate the amounts of compostable waste getting sent to landfills, where it would likely just sit for much longer than is acceptable.

When compostable products break down, they release rich nutrients into the soil. In a composting facility, these products break down in several months. In order to break down properly, compostable products must go to a composting facility or a home composter, although home composting takes longer and is more work than taking trash to composting facilities. Compostable products should NOT be placed in recycling bins, as they will taint the recycling process.

Compostable products are now more readily available than ever, including compostable disposable cutlery and tableware. Many of these products are made out of bagasse (refined sugarcane fiber) and PLA (polylactic acid), which are both completely compostable.

And finally, composting does not involve much effort. If you decide to compost at home, the initial setup is the hardest part, whether it be buying and setting up a composter or making a compost pile. However, if you plan to take your trash to a composting facility, your work is done once you drop it off! Composting has never been easier, and although it might require a little more work than traditional trash, it's your earth, and its worth it! So I once again pose the question, Why not compost?


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