Give Waste A Second Life Through Your Compost!
Our waste management is causing an environmental crisis. As the average American generates 1,600 pounds of waste every year, only 34% of it is recycled. The rest is dumped in landfills where food scraps, vegetation, and other organic waste cannot properly decompose.
A common myth holds that some organic waste, such as food scraps, cannot be composted, which has made matters even worse since landfills currently account for more than a third of all US greenhouse gas emissions.
Composting can be done on anything that has lived or was grown. The process is no longer expensive, time-consuming, or only available at municipal facilities. You can now do it easily from your own apartment, home, or backyard!
Our main goal for the #Root2Renew initiative is to reduce waste and we need to do it responsibly. Composting could help us divert more than 30% of our waste stream from landfills and return it to the soil, thus helping the environment.
At EcoBlvd, we are on a mission to develop new sustainable connections, so we created this simple guide to compostables and how to start composting!
What Is A Compostable
A compostable is an organic product that decomposes into non-toxic, natural elements. Compostable materials require microorganisms, humidity, and heat to decompose. Having decomposed completely, compost can be added back to the soil or reused for various products.
Creating Beautiful Compost With Browns and Greens
To successfully turn your compostables into nutrient-rich soil, understanding the balance between different types of compost materials is crucial. Let's explore how the right mix of 'browns' and 'greens' can create beautiful, effective compost
Getting Composting Just Right: The Color Codes
A balance of nutrients with high carbon and nitrogen content is required for composting to be successful.
To help find the right balance, compostables have been assigned colors according to whether they release more carbon or nitrogen when decomposed.
- Browns: are materials that release carbon, including branches, twigs, dead leaves, cardboard, and paper.
- Greens: are materials that release nitrogen and include vegetable scraps such as carrots, onion skins, corn husks, banana peels, and coffee grounds.
The ratio of materials must also be considered to ensure the right consistency. When the pile looks slimy or smells strong, add more browns. When the pile seems dry and hard to mix, add more greens.
An ideal ratio is 30:1 or 30 parts carbon (browns) to 1 part nitrogen (greens).
Everyday Compostables Include:
As you review the list of everyday compostables below, think about which items you frequently use. Could you start a small compost bin for these items? Here's what you can include to make a difference right in your own home:
- Leaves
- Hay or Straw
- Wool, Cotton, Hemp & Silk
- Grass Clippings
- Sawdust
- Ashes (Wood)
- Fruit & Veggie Peels
- Kitchen Food Scraps
- Stalks
- Cobbs
- Coffee Grounds
- Nut Shells
- Egg Shells
- Toilet Paper Rolls
- Egg Cartons
- Cereal Boxes
- Pizza Boxes
- Newspaper
- Paper Towels & Napkins
Besides the fact that composting can keep more than 30% of waste out of landfills, composting is one of the most beneficial practices you can implement to help the environment!
As a natural fertilizer, compost keeps plants healthy by retaining moisture and keeping diseases and pests at bay.
Microorganisms break down compost into humus, a nutrient-dense material that retains 80-90% of its weight in moisture and can help restore areas of the environment that droughts have damaged.
By laying compost between roads and wetlands, pollutants caused by traffic can be reduced. In addition, compost can be a valuable component of wetland restoration or improvement projects since those ecosystems need organic material.
Source: “What are the Benefits of Compost.” US Composting Council, n.d.
How to Compost Indoors
-
Build a Worm Composting Bin: Vermicomposting, or composting with worms, is becoming a common home composting method as it can be done on your balcony or anywhere! Composting worms, also known as red wigglers, can be found at your local bait shop. Worms thrive at room temperature, so they are the ideal indoor pet, as they enjoy eating food scraps.
Composting with worms is not an overnight success since it takes a few weeks for the materials to decompose, but it is much faster than other processes!
-
Giving Your Scraps A Tumbler: You can put your scraps in the compartment, give it a tumble in a few weeks, and your compost is ready! This makes it the perfect solution for balconies and small backyards.
- Compost In A Flash With An Electric Composter: Composting with an electric composter is more expensive than other options, but you can get compost overnight instead of waiting for it to decompose. It is a must-have for those with larger households and families who want to reduce their carbon footprint quickly and effectively!
How To Compost EcoBlvd Phone Cases + Other Compostable Phone Cases
Preparation: Before composting, clean the case thoroughly to remove any residues or debris. If the case has any non-compostable components (like metal pieces), remove them.
Composting Process
-
Break It Down: Cutting or breaking the case into smaller pieces will help speed up the decomposition process.
-
Add to Greens: Phone cases are typically rich in carbon and should be balanced with nitrogen-rich materials, known as greens, in your compost. Mix it well with kitchen scraps, grass clippings, and other greens.
- Maintenance: Turn your compost pile regularly to aerate it, which helps to maintain the necessary heat and moisture levels for decomposition.
-
Monitor Progress: Keep an eye on the decomposition process. It may take longer for a phone case to break down compared to organic food waste.
-
Final Use: Once fully decomposed, the resulting compost can be used as a soil amendment to enrich your garden, helping to close the loop of your product lifecycle in the most sustainable way!
Conclusion:
Now, it's your turn to take action. Start small, perhaps with your kitchen scraps or yard waste, and see the difference you can make. Remember, every bit of compost you create not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also enriches the soil for future growth. Join us in the #Root2Renew initiative and start composting today—because when it comes to protecting our planet, every effort counts.
