Composting Information

Waste Reduction

Oct 12

Why Compost?

Whether you're an avid gardener or have never put a plant in the ground, we all have reasons to compost...

Waste Reduction - Over half of all waste occupying US landfills is organic matter. Most of this material can be composted in one way or another - doing so preserves space in our landfills for items with no current alternative.

Climate Change - Organic matter that breaks down in an anaerobic environment, as is the case in most landfills, generates methane. Methane is a greenhouse gas up to 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide, making landfills significant contributors to the climate crisis.

Soil amendment - If you do garden, then composting is your ticket to free, high-quality, and natural fertilizer! Not only does compost provide essential plant nutrients, it also bolsters the soil ecosystem, which has been shown to grow hardier, more disease-resistant plants.

Methods of Composting

There are different ways to compost. Even if you don't have a backyard, there may be a method for you!

Backyard Composting - Typically what we think of when we hear composting. Can be anything from a loose pile in the back corner of your yard to a multi-chambered, rotating container. A great choice if you have the space. See the brochure below for more info.

Industrial / Commercial Composting - Large-scale composting operations efficiently decompose huge volumes of food scraps and other organic wastes. These provide a sustainable destination for food waste from commercial kitchens and residential homes alike, and are a great option for those that don't have the space or desire to compost on their own property. In Asheville, CompostNow provides a weekly compost pickup service that makes dealing with food waste hassle-free. Industrial composting achieves high heats and thus can handle items that a backyard pile can't, such as animal products and compostable plastics.

Vermicompost - Composting with earthworms! We can team up with one of nature's most accomplished decomposers to create incredibly rich soil amendment. Done correctly, vermicompost systems hardly smell at all, and thus can be done indoors—this makes it a great option for those lacking outdoor space. Red wigglers (the most common earthworm species used for composting) are a bit pickier than the microbes and insects that do a lot of the legwork in a backyard pile. They don't like highly acidic foods like alliums and citrus fruits. However, if the conditions are favorable, wigglers will make superb, nutrient-dense soil amendment. More info can be found on the NC State Extension site linked below.