Did you know that 30-40% of food in America is wasted? It may seem like nothing to throw away those strawberries that accidentally rotted in your fridge, but food waste is actually a main contributor to climate change. As humanists, we have a duty to live sustainably, as individuals and in our communities. It can be overwhelming to feel the weight of climate change. There is so much damage currently happening and there is so much that needs to happen to help remedy that damage. Reducing food waste and composting is one step in helping create a better now and future. By implementing these changes into your lifestyle, you are individually helping reduce greenhouse emissions and creating nutrient-rich, restorative soil.
Why Compost?
It is easy to forget how much energy and work goes into the box of strawberries that you pick up at your local grocery store. There is an immense amount of resources that are required for those strawberries to reach your grocery bag, from water to labor to transportation to money. In total, it takes 80% of our freshwater, 10% of our energy resources, and 50% of our land to get food onto Americans’ tables. If those strawberries go rotten, it is easy to want to toss them in the trash, along with your unease from letting them go bad. There is a way to remedy this unease and do something about it! Compost!
Composting recycles the great amount of energy gone into those strawberries by creating a nutrient-dense soil. The nutrients from the strawberries go back into the soil to make it more rich, lessening the need for fertilizers, and making it the perfect home for new growth.
If those strawberries had been thrown away, as about 30-40% of food is in the United States, they would have made their way to a landfill. There, they would decompose, just as they would in a compost. But in landfills the strawberries release methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gases. The release of methane from wasted food in landfills accounts for about 20% of America’s methane release. Instead of wasting strawberries and contributing to greenhouse emissions, compost to create healthy, rich soil.
In 2017, only 6.3% of 41 million tons of food waste created was composted and recycled for its potential energy. That’s a tiny percentage, but you can help change this! Eliminating food waste starts with your shopping list. Planning ahead meals, storing fruits and vegetables properly, and being mindful of expiration dates are great ways to stay conscious of the food you use and to lessen the amount of food going to landfills. Learn more tips on reducing food waste here.
How Do I Start?
Composting is another great step towards reducing the food waste you put out. It is taking what you normally would throw in the trash – and putting it in a different pile. Alright, it is a little more involved than that, but not too much extra effort! Compost is the collection of food waste and biodegradable items that are then turned into nutrient dense soil.
Now that you are excited about composting, you are probably thinking how do I do it and where do I begin? There are many options, so you can find what works best for you! You can start your own compost at home, and if you don’t want to deal with the sometimes stinky mess – check out if your municipality has a compost service. You can see if your area has a composting service already implemented here. If your city is not on the list, contact your local elected officials to share the benefits of composting and why you want it in your community.
At home, it is simple to build or buy a backyard compost or have an indoor compost bin. Once you have a compost vessel, you can begin to add biodegradable waste. Here are a couple of do’s and don’ts for acceptable waste:
- DO:
- Banana peels
- Eggshells – but not whole eggs as they will attract rodents
- Coffee grounds
- Teabags
- Cardboard
- Leaves
- DON’T
- Dairy products
- Fatty and oily foods
- Bones
- Anything with potential pesticides (such as grass clippings from your yard)
You can find a more comprehensive list of what to and what to not compost here.
Composting requires mixing and churning to ensure that the waste continues to decompose. If you choose the route of a built, backyard compost pile a shovel or pitchfork works perfect. If you buy a compost bin, there is usually a handle attached that will allow you to churn the mixture without getting too close. Decomposition also works most efficiently in a moist environment. Keeping your compost slightly wet is crucial for efficient decomposition.
Composting transforms your food waste into nutrient rich soil. Once you have the soil, you can mix it into your own garden, donate to a community garden, use with your potted plants, or simply incorporate into your lawn.
Share Your Story
One of the most important things you can do to fight climate change is also one of the simplest: talk about it! Research shows that discussing the climate crisis with family and friends reinforces that the problem is real and the science unequivocal. Yet, nearly two-thirds of Americans say they rarely or never have those conversations. Share with your friends, family, and other community members about composting and the great benefits of it!
Let us know how you plan to make more sustainable life choices. Tell us what changes you will be making in the name of sustainability. Use the power of social media and personal conversation to share your progress and get others involved!
Sample Social Media Posts:
- “I just pledged to start living more sustainably by building a compost using the #HEREforClimate Composting Toolkit! Check it out and learn how you can make more sustainable choices, conserve resources, and save money! [URL Link]”
- “We all have a personal responsibility to combat the global climate crisis and live more sustainably. Learn how you can take a personal action with the #HEREforClimate Composting Toolkit!”
- “The #HEREforClimate Composting Toolkit made it easy to start making more sustainable choices in my daily life. I just pledged to reduce my food waste and contact my local government about implementing a composting service. Find out what else you can do with the #HEREforClimate toolkit!”
Additional Resources
More on Food Waste:
- Short clips from the FDA about food consumption and its impacts here
- Find tips on what you can do to help reduce food waste – besides compost here and here.
- Watch the documentary Wasted! to learn more about food waste.
More on Composting:
- Check out if your area has a composting service already implemented here.
- Want to learn more about composting and how to implement it? Check out Grace Gershuny’s book “The Rodale Book of Composting: Easy Methods for Every Gardener” to get started.
- Why is our soil a part of the conversation? Check out Kristin Ohlson’s book “The Soil Will Save Us” to understand why soil is crucial to conversations on environmentalism.
Looking for more? Find a full list of resources regarding climate action and sustainability here.