Composting Step #1: Select a Container
- jpgiovannettone
- 11 hours ago
- 2 min read
An important topic related to waste reduction is composting. Municipal solid waste landfills are the 3rd largest source of methane emissions in the U.S. Food waste accounts for 24% of disposed materials in landfills and contributes toward an estimated 58% of landfill methane emissions into the atmosphere as it decays. Therefore, it is extremely important that we reduce the amount of food waste we put in our trash, and the most effective and easiest way to accomplish this is through composting.
Many people express the desire to compost their food scraps but feel that it is too complicated to start and do not have the time to do the proper research prior to setting up a compost bin or pile. Therefore, the purpose of this and other articles is to begin composting together through a few simple steps.
Step #1: Select a container.
There are several bins on the market, the main differences being size, whether it has a bottom or not, and whether it can be turned or spun. Compost piles need to be turned often, which can be done with simple yard tools (e.g., a pitchfork or a rake) if you purchase a bottomless bin or by purchasing a closed spinnable bin. Spinnable bins make mixing much easier without having to expend much effort, though almost all are made of plastic. A bottomless bin allows organisms from the underlying soil to enter your compost pile, which will speed up the process of turning dead leaves and your kitchen scraps into compost. The disadvantage is that other larger critters (including crows and other birds) can also enter.
Another sturdier and plastic-free option is to use wooden pallets or boards that can be fit together to form square compartments to be used to not only turn your food scraps into compost, but also to store extra leaves as well as isolate compost that is ready to be used in the garden. An example of such a setup is the cedar wood fence composter sold by the company Greenes.
Helpful Hint
If you would like to start composting, begin by purchasing a container/setup (e.g., spinnable bin, plastic-free bottomless setup, etc.) that is appropriate for your needs.
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