International Compost Awareness Week is here, and we asked our local organic champions Santos Organics whether there was any point in composting our organics and using compost to create a healthier soil, or whether we should just dig a huge hole somewhere in the shire and let everyone throw their stuff in. On balance, they came down in favour of composting:
‘On our individual sustainability journeys, one way almost all of us can make a difference is how we handle our food scraps and waste at home,’ they said. ‘With a few simple changes to our habits, we can reduce our environmental footprint and contribute to a healthier planet through home composting.
‘Food waste is a significant environmental issue with far-reaching consequences. When food scraps end up in landfills, they decompose anaerobically, releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Additionally, valuable nutrients contained in food waste are lost when it is not properly recycled. Composting at home is an easy way to side-step this problem by turning organic waste into nutrient-rich soil. Composting is also carbon-negative. Healthy, microbial-rich soils sequester carbon from the atmosphere and lock it within the soil structure as stable carbon potentially for decades. So if you are not yet an avid home composter maybe it’s time to give it a go!
‘Here are some tips for easy composting to get you started:
Start small by collecting your food scraps
Use vegetable scraps and avoid cooking oils and fats, meat and dairy
Balance food scraps with dry organic matter in the compost pile at a ratio of 1:1
Aerate regularly, at this stage additional manure can be added to turbo charge decomposition and for additional nutrients
Keep it moist and add to your garden for soil, plant, and planetary health!
‘Caring for our own food scraps and waste is a simple yet powerful way to promote sustainability and reduce our environmental impact. By composting at home, we can recycle organic waste, enrich the soil, and contribute to a healthier planet for future generations. Anyone can become a composting champion!’
For more detailed information visit: https://santosorganics.com.au/blogs/zero-waste/embrace-composting.
