Why Compost?

​

​

You may wonder why it is so harmful to the environment? The problem has to do with the fact that when food and other organic matter decomposes in a landfill,  it gets buried under other trash, causing it not to get the oxygen it needs to decompose naturally.  Without oxygen, as food decays, it lets off methane gas, a greenhouse gas, 86 times more potent that carbon dioxide. Composting allows oxygen to circulate in the decomposition process, so that dangerous methane gasses are not produced.

​

Another benefit of composting is that it puts nutrients back in soil, improving its health and strengthening our local food system.  What is your garbage is a farmer's treasure.  Organic compost is not only high in nutrients, but also helps soil retain more water, helping to save another valuable resource.

​

There are many options for composting, and this article, "Composting 101: What, Why & How to Compost at Home", gives great information on composting in general, and 6 different options to do it.

​

One option is, if you are unable to or not interested in keeping up with a composting system at home, you can look into local service, such as Hudson Valley Food Waste Challenge sponsor, the Community Composting Company offers.  They provide a variety of collection services for residents, businesses, and institutions, which includes collection and community drop spots.