Each year, the week of May 5-11 is Compost Awareness Week! This is an annual event that aims to raise awareness around the importance and benefits of proper composting, as well as to share knowledge on the crucial role that composting plays in soil and plant health, and in environmental sustainability.
Compost Awareness Week is something we‘re recognizing at Jumper Waste Management, because we take our commitment to sustainability seriously.
Why should you compost?
Composting is the natural process of breaking down organic matter, such as food scraps, into a nutrient-rich matter that you can add your soil. Compost can be used for gardening and agriculture, and it has many benefits for the environment, such as:
Reducing waste: Composting helps prevent organic waste from reaching landfills, where it would otherwise release methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
Enriching soil: Compost adds organic matter, nutrients, and beneficial microorganisms to soil, which can help improve its overall structure, fertility, and water retention.
Enhancing plant growth: Compost promotes plant growth, health, and resistance to pests and diseases. This in turn also reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides!
Conserving water: Because compost helps soil have better moisture retention, it reduces runoff, erosion, and water pollution.
Cutting carbon: Compost also increases soil’s capacity to store carbon, which in turn reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that’s being released into the atmosphere.
How to compost at home, work, and beyond:
Composting can be done anywhere! That’s the beauty and simplicity of composting — whether you’re at home, at work, at school, or in the community.
Backyard composting: If you have a bin or large container in your backyard, you can use it to compost your organic waste. With this method, make sure to balance the ratio of carbon-rich materials, like leaves, straw, and paper, and nitrogen-rich materials, such as fruit and vegetable scraps and grass clippings. Turn it regularly to speed up the decomposition process.
Worm composting: Worms are Earth’s little helpers! This method involves using a bin with red wiggler worms to compost your organic waste. Worms are super powerful in the composting process because they eat the organic matter to produce worm castings, which are rich in nutrients and beneficial for plants. This method is ideal for small spaces and apartments as it can be done both outdoors and indoors.
Bokashi composting: Bokashi is a composting method of fermentation that you can easily do at home with just a few simple steps that involve sealing kitchen scraps and organic waste in an airtight container with a medium. The finished product is an extremely nutrient-dense plant food that may be buried in compost trenches in a garden. It is an anaerobic fermentation process that relies on inoculated Bokashi bran to ferment kitchen waste, including meat and dairy, into a safe soil builder and nutrient-rich tea for your plants.
Composting is a simple and effective way to reduce waste, improve soil, and support environmental sustainability. Choose a method that suits your needs and preferences and use the resources and tips in this blog post to get started today. Let’s celebrate Compost Awareness Week together and join the global composting community to contribute to a greener and healthier planet!
If you are interested in recycling your food waste, speak to us to find out more about our products and services!
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