Many years ago I was heed to a radio program about gardening ; composting was the topic for that day ’s call - in show . The moderator , a quick - witted and well - inform agricultural extension agent , took a call . “ What can you do with food scraps if you do n’t have a compost big money ? ” the phoner asked . “ Make soup ! ” the show ’s boniface said .
Every sentence I visit a compost - less home plate it nearly part my marrow to throw chocolate reason , eggshells , and leftover in the scum . Not only does discarding solid food add to our already over - crowded landfills , it also tosses out opportunities to improve grime and grow more food . While I ’ll never roll in the hay if the telephone extension factor was joking or serious about hit soup , her reply got me think about all the way we could recycle organic scraps .
Of naturally , the first and best way to use scraps is to make compost with it . Compost is a heavy product because it adds nutrients to the soil , improves the grunge ’s texture , and avail balance the grunge — all of which makes solid food and cosmetic plants farm better . compost also reduces the cost and the pollution that come with trash truckage and disposal . you may make a compost ABA transit number or buy one that fits even in a belittled space . Many town offer free or low - cost bins to encourage households to reprocess their waste . you’re able to also buy compost bins online at many different sites .
Recycling Food Waste
If composting is out of the question for you , consider these options for putting your barren to work :
1 . impart your food waste to a neighbor ’s compost pile . depend for gardeners in your sphere and ask them if you’re able to add to their pile . Assure your neighbour you wo n’t sum essence or fertile , because they can attract brute .
2 . tender your waste to a local farmer . Even urban areas have farmers that wreak their commodity to town . expect if they ’ll break up up your waste matter or if you could lend it to their farm . It could be a great excuse to make a regular stumble out to the surround countryside .
3 . Recycle your barren at the town solid waste readiness . Many towns have regular pickup of leaves , grass trim , and other yard waste , or you may have to take your waste to organic waste recycling center . It ’s a bully money - saver : Diverting constitutive dissipation away from its landfill saves the town of Amherst , New York $ 1.8 million annually . Find out what your townspeople does to recycle constitutional materials and learn how you may participate .
4 . contribute your scraps to work . Some avid gardener put up compost bucketful in their work . If youwork in a restaurantor school you may be able to add to their organic waste recycling . Participating school in Massachusetts are saving about $ 1,000 a year by community compost , and restaurants are seeing their trash bills go down by 20 % .
5 . Feed chickens , cop , or goats . While feed locoweed and kitchen wasteland to domesticated pets is n’t a sound theme , many farm animals will thrive on your scraps .
6 . Start insect composting , which can be done indoors , even in an apartment . With worm compost , or vermiculture , you reuse food scraps into nutrient - plenteous compost .
Want to learn more about recycling food waste?
Check out the espouse internet site for more ideas about how you’re able to be part of in the DOE - conserving and soil - construction practice of recycle organic waste :
UseLocal Harvest ’s websiteto find granger ’ market place and family farms near you . Offer your organic wastefulness to them .
Learn about compost at the Compost Instructions site .
Find out Scrap Managementfrom CalRecycles .
Lynne Lamstein gardens in Maine and Florida and is currently sour on a sustainable landscape . She has a level in ornamental horticulture from Temple University .
