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GIVE YOUR SCRAPS A NEW LIFE

WITH HOME COMPOSTING

WRITTEN BY SOPHIE OSWALD

Are you looking for a way to create environmental change from the comfort of your home? Maybe you understand the negative impact of waste and are searching for a clean solution to give old food, scraps, and other items a new life instead of throwing them in the trash. If this sounds like you, composting might be worth a try.

“Composting your food waste is one of the most impactful practices one can take to curb climate change,” said Coco Castle, Director of Operations at Compost Collective KC. If you are interested in composting but do not have the space or time to try it out, you are not alone. Thankfully, there are ways to utilize composting without taking it on yourself.

“Forty percent of the total food supply is currently being wasted in the United States, and Compost Collective KC aims to change that by recycling the city’s scraps into nutrient-dense soil instead,” Castle explained. “Our industrial facility is able to process meat, bones, and dairy as well as paper products like pizza boxes that you couldn’t typically compost at home. Combat climate change in your own kitchen and take action today.” It can seem impossible to compost if you live in an area that’s lacking yard space, but it’s pretty simple with a little bit of practice. Overthinking the process or avoiding it out of fear helps no one. Turning your scraps into fertilizer is one of the best ways to limit your carbon footprint.

EDUCATING YOURSELF ON COMPOSTING IS ESSENTIAL TO YOUR SUCCESS Composting isn’t something that one can easily attempt to do with no knowledge or planning. With that said, this doesn’t have to be complicated. You can watch a few videos online or check out a book on com-

posting from the library. There are a few basic tips and tricks everyone should know before attempting to compost at home. Understanding what items are welcome in your compost, and which are not is vital to your success. Citrus peels and onions contain a high level of acidity that worms and microorganisms aren’t big fans of. If you are composting at home, it is best to avoid adding in things like meat and cooked food. These can attract pests. If you do want to find a home for these items, try a service like Compost Collective KC. It is better to give them to someone who knows what to do with them rather than throw these items in the trash.

Stick to natural and organic materials. Things like fruits, vegetables, coffee grounds, eggshells, and nutshells are perfect for your home compost. Some people who compost from home may also have yard waste which can be added in too. You may even be able to throw in old pieces of clothing, but be sure to do your research first. Another vital tip is learning to aerate your compost properly. This will help you avoid creating strong odors that linger. This isn’t always entirely avoidable, but aerating your pile will certainly help.

Before beginning your composting journey, you will need to decide what style you want to utilize. One of the more popular ways of composting is using a worm bin. This style allows you to feed food scraps to worms. It is a fairly simple way to compost, and it doesn’t take up a lot of space. If worms aren’t your style, you could opt for tumbler composting or another kind.

GREENS VS. BROWNS For your compost to thrive you will need to create a balanced mix of green and browns. Greens are rich in nitrogen or protein, and browns are going to be your carbohydrate or carbon-rich items.

One thing you may want to consider when composting at home is creating a system for food scraps. By storing your scraps you will be able to create the perfect mix over time rather than throwing everything in at once. It is important to remember that composts are much more than a bucket to toss scraps and unwanted items into. These are living and breathing systems. To create a home compost that works, you need to educate yourself and make use of tips like these. After you give composting a shot and learn the many aspects of the process, you will be just fine.

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