In celebration of International Compost Awareness Week 2018, let’s review the benefits of Organics Recycling!

Each year during the first full week of May, nations all over the world pay special attention to spreading knowledge on the importance of organics recycling. Organics recycling uses the process of composting to turn organic material such as banana peels, coffee grinds and egg shells into a rich form of soil through decomposition. It’s a simple process with multiple benefits:

It’s a benefit to humans!

Once organic material is broken down and turned into compost, it can be incorporated into soil used in gardens and farms. Given the rich nutrient and vitamin content of compost, this addition helps plants grow healthier and more nutritious. Healthy and nutritious plants translate into healthy food that supports humans have happy and healthy lives.  Organics recycling is an easy way to close the loop in our agricultural systems.  We’re taking waste from the plate back to the plant!

It’s a benefit to our natural environment!

When we throw our food scraps into our compost bin instead of our garbage bin, we re-direct that organic matter away from the landfill. When organic material is dumped into the landfill, it is buried under layers of waste without access to light or oxygen. Landfills undergo anaerobic decomposition (without oxygen) which generates methane whereas compost piles undergo aerobic decomposition (with oxygen) which sequesters carbon dioxide – preventing more greenhouse gases from releasing into our atmosphere and contributing further to climate change.

According to Recycle Across America, “almost half of the food in the U.S. goes to waste – approximately 3,000 pounds per second.”  Just imagine the impact if that waste was diverted with an organics recycling program instead D:

It’s a benefit to the economy!

As more organic matter is used for composting, fewer chemicals are required to produce food, which in turn reduces the costs of chemical fertilizers for gardeners and farmers. And, as less garbage is being sent to the landfill, costs in waste management are cut down due to the decreasing amount of land space and increasing land costs faced in the waste industry.

So, we ask ourselves, why are we doing what we do? In 2017, Growing City helped divert about 2 million kilograms of organic material from the landfill. And we’re doing this for the wellbeing of humans, of our natural environment and of the economy. Join us in spreading the word this week :)

For more information on International Compost Week, check out a few things that the Composting Council is doing this week at http://www.compostfoundation.org/icaw

If you want to play your part in protecting the environment by implementing or improving your business’ recycling program, contact Growing City today. We can help.