Celebrating International Compost Awareness Week (May 7-13)

 

EduSciTech is where I share my passion for living a green and sustainable lifestyle. Today I want to talk to you about one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to reduce your environmental impact: composting!

Composting is a natural process that turns organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, into a valuable soil amendment called compost. Compost is rich in nutrients and organic matter that can improve the health and fertility of your soil, whether you use it in your garden, lawn, or houseplants.

Why should you compost? Here are some of the amazing benefits of composting:

- Composting reduces the amount of trash you send to the landfill and saves you money on garbage fees. According to the EPA, food and yard waste make up about 30% of what we throw away. By composting these materials, you can divert them from the landfill and reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

- Composting enriches the soil with nutrients and organic matter, which reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. Compost contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other micronutrients that plants need to grow and thrive. It also increases the soil's ability to retain water and prevent erosion.

- Composting supports the soil food web, which is a complex network of organisms that live in the soil and help plants grow. Compost introduces beneficial bacteria and fungi to the soil, which break down organic matter and make nutrients available to plants. Compost also attracts earthworms, insects, and other creatures that aerate the soil and create channels for water and air.

- Composting is fun and easy to do! You can start composting at home with a simple bin or pile in your backyard, or even indoors with a worm bin or a bokashi system. You can also join a community composting program or drop off your food scraps at a local farmers market or garden center. There are many options for composting that suit different lifestyles and preferences.

As you can see, composting is a great way to turn your trash into treasure and help the environment at the same time. Happy composting!

If you live in NYC, you can drop off your composts at a location closest to you!

Learn more about the International Compost Awareness Week

YouTube Video Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5KAfmSJjIk