Say goodbye to waste and hello to a sustainable, thriving garden! By composting, you can ensure that your kitchen scraps are put to good use instead of decomposing in a landfill and generating greenhouse gases.
Now, here’s a question that often arises when composting is mentioned: why should I care? Consider that when food waste decomposes, it produces methane, a substance that traps more heat per molecule and is thus about 25 times more harmful than carbon dioxide. The Environmental Protection Agency found that there are 66.2 million tons of food waste produced annually. According to the Department of Agriculture, the residential sector produces roughly 40% of that amount, or 26.5 million tons per year. Most of this waste is sent to the landfill or combusted. It’s also important to note the time, energy, water, and labor dedicated to the preparation of the food that are all wasted as it’s thrown away.
There’s good news though—you can compost at home for free by requesting a composter through the city of Orlando! It’s a relatively simple and low-maintenance process.
Here are some general guidelines on what you can and cannot compost, as illustrated by the City of Orlando’s guide:
Here is how you can compost:
Break apart your food or yard waste into smaller pieces to make the decomposition process faster.
Place newspaper along the inside of the container as a lining to absorb excess liquids.
Place the contents of your container with compostable items into the composter.
On top of the food waste layer you have just created, lay leaves or dry yard trimmings over.
Pour water into the composter until the moisture is only slightly damp.
Mix the container’s contents as needed for aeration and faster decomposition.
4-6 months later, harvest the compost once it has reached a moist texture and smells earthy. To harvest properly, either open the harvest door located at the base, or unscrew the top.
For more details on the process, reference the city of Orlando’s composting guide here.
Composting FAQ’s:
Doesn’t it smell?
No, the city’s composters are airtight containers. If there’s an unpleasant odor, check the city of Orlando’s composting guide to see what may be causing the problem.
Why compost when I can just use fertilizer on my soil?
The University of Florida has found that Florida’s typically sandy soil does not retain nutrients or water the way that more Northern soil does, as described here. Compost helps with that issue while also working to stabilize soil pH. While fertilizers provide short-term relief, compost strengthens the soil and improves its quality for long-term usage. Additionally, composting yourself saves more money since you will not rely on chemical fertilizer so heavily.
I’m just one person, how would my actions help?
By composting in your backyard, you’re promoting a healthy and sustainable lifestyle in your neighborhood. Your neighbors and friends could be encouraged to compost after seeing how your soil quality improved. Making a difference in your community starts with you, so taking the initiative to begin living sustainably is an essential first step to making a meaningful impact.
References:
United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2019 Wasted Food Report. Apr. 2023,
United States Environmental Protection Agency. Importance of Methane.
