Composting is one of the easiest ways to cut back dramatically on your kitchen waste. A variety of composting systems allow you to return the nutrients in your unwanted food scraps to the earth, while reducing your garbage output and even saving money on garden fertilizer.
Composters are easy to find at hardware stores and require almost no yard space. Some municipal governments offer composters to their citizens for free. Better yet, build a composter yourself all you need is wood and chicken wire or even an old garbage can, properly ventilated, will do the trick. If you live in the country and have the space, a compost heap is easier. Just choose a spot.
Apartment dwellers can register with a local community compost program. Municipalities, universities, community gardens, and all kinds of smaller organizations offer community compost memberships at a nominal cost, or no cost at all, in return for your unwanted vitamins and minerals. In many cases, you can bring in your scraps and walk away with dirt for your garden every time you visit. You’ll have to make a weekly trip, but the walk will do you good.
Or get yourself some worms. Vermi-composting takes up no space at all. The magic can happen under your sink.
Many municipalities around the world are beginning to implement curbside organic waste collections. If you’re lucky enough to live in a city with a program like this, be sure you’re taking full advantage of it.
Whatever method you choose, you’ll notice a huge drop in your weekly garbage. Most compost systems can process fruit and vegetable leftovers, coffee grounds, teabags, eggshells, plant clippings, dryer lint, sawdust, and yard waste. Some curbside organic waste collections will even accept certain paper products and pet waste. Conventional wisdom suggests that organic material accounts for an even half of society’s waste. That’s a big step to a greener life. Get started.
