|
Click on photo to view larger image
|
Did you know that organic matter such as yard and food waste comprises 24 percent of the waste generated in the United States? Composting is a viable answer to reduce organic waste and results in a variety of environmental benefits. It enriches soil, cleans up contaminated soil, preventing pollution, and offers economic benefits.
Composting advocates across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom hope to educate everyone about the environmental benefits of composting during the 2007 International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW). This year’s ICAW takes place May 6 through May 12, 2007. Sponsored by the United States Composting Council, ICAW is a fun and educational week of events that showcases compost production and demonstrates compost use.
Reduce at the Source
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) promotes composting through outreach and education. We encourage Maryland counties to develop and maintain a home composting bin distribution program and provide demonstrations. Because recycling and composting yard trimmings has great source reduction potential, counties may receive a source reduction credit of up to two percent. Counties must conduct a public education program and distribute publications promoting home composting to receive credit. Source reduction credits along with the recycling rate comprise a county’s waste diversion rate.
What is composting?
Simply stated, composting is the process by which organic matter is biodegraded to a soil-like condition called compost or humus. Composting is constructed from “Greens” and “Browns”:
-
“Greens” are the source of nitrogen and include items such as grass clippings, almost all food waste, old plants, wilted flowers, coffee grounds, tea leaves and manure
-
“Browns” are the source of carbon and include items such as leaves, hay, straw, wood chips, sawdust, chipped brush, and shredded newspapers.
What are the benefits of composting?
When organics are composted, they become natural soil additives for use on lawns and gardens, and in potting soil. As a soil amendment or mulch, compost adds essential nutrients to the soil, improves soil texture, moderates temperatures, and increases the ability of the soil to absorb air and water. It also suppresses weed growth, decreases erosion, and reduces the need to apply commercial soil additives – and the best part is – it’s eco-friendly and saves you money!
How do I begin?
To practice home composting, you may either create a freestanding pile or build or buy an inexpensive bin. Some counties in Maryland offer these bins for free during special source reduction events, or have bins available to purchase year-round. Additionally, many lawn and garden shops sell composting bins.
Here are the basics for setting up your compost bin:
“Greens” and “Browns” are added to the bin in a 2:1 ratio, moistening them as you go. The pile should be kept as damp as a wrung out sponge and covered in periods of very high moisture. The pile should be turned, or aerated, every week. In three to six months, you will have a dark brown, crumbly, sweet smelling soil amendment.
Click here to find out more information about home composting or visit the United States Composting Council’s website at: www.compostingcouncil.org
|
