“To Compost, or Not to Compost” – Prince Hamlet

Compostable waste (such as food, paper towels) produces more methane (CH4) when it goes to garbage landfills as opposed to compost bins. This is evident by the following chemical equations; where landfills cause the waste to decompose anaerobically (without oxygen), while composts decompose waste aerobically (with oxygen):

Methane is a gas with 26 times as much Global Warming Potential (GWP) than CO2, so it is important to divert this waste away from landfills as much as possible. [1]

The added benefit of composting is the soil that is created. This soil can be utilized for farming purposes, as well as small scale herb and vegetable growing in the backyard or balcony. In larger applications, this new soil helps divert water runoff, reducing the likelihood of flooding – effectively acting as a sponge.

---

Tips and Tricks

Ok, so composting is great… but what if the condo, apartment, or workplace you are at doesn’t have a compost bin?

A lot of residents live in places that don’t seem entirely compost friendly; however it’s possible to make them work. If you live in a condo or an apartment and have even a tiny balcony, it’s possible to utilize it for composting waste. This will be used for new soil if you choose to grow without having to worry about the compost bin smelling.

A ‘trade secret’, as quoted by a sub-urban farmer from my current workplace who swears by the technique, is to ensure that the compost bin has around a 3:1 ratio of wood waste to food waste. Wood waste is any type of material that originated from wood, including scrap paper (too destroyed to utilize for doodling and such), cardboard, paper towels, napkins, leaves, pieces of wood, etc. This will also enhance the overall nutrition of the soil.It is evident that adding a higher ratio will reduce any concerns regarding smell even further; however, 3:1 seems to be a sweet spot that doesn’t require any extra scrounging for wood waste.

Another key thing to consider is that fine particles of food and wood waste seem to break down quicker when they are fragmented. Consider breaking them down a little, either by hand or with a blender beforehand to make the composting process quicker. Wintertime requires absolutely no maintenance, other than the continuation of layering compostable waste for composting.

In general, if at work and there is no green bin available -- bring compost home for the green bin or your own compost bin. Gather movements at work to do this on a ‘business-wide’ scale. Also consider voting for politicians who will make our climate and the environment a priority, including laws and regulations regarding composting (especially in businesses, condos and apartments) and taxing those who don’t compost. Future articles will deal with the techniques of growing your own food as well as some methods for implementing appropriate waste practices at the workplace. So in summary, being a responsible citizen means to compost, Hamlet.

[1] "Composting to avoid methane production | Agriculture and Food." 23 Jul. 2018, https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-change/composting-avoid-methane-production. Accessed 5 Mar. 2019.