Composting Helps, How to Compost in Your Community

How to compost in your community

There is no question that composting is one of the best ways to dispose of food scraps and other organic matter. Currently, the massive amount of food and other organic waste in landfills is the third-largest source of human-produced methane emissions in the United States, making up 14.5% of total methane emissions. Diverting this organic waste from landfills reduces these planet-damaging methane emissions and produces valuable agricultural soil.

Initiating composting on a community level is one of the best ways to get more people involved and make a larger positive  impact on the environment. While composting is simple, many still hesitate to do it, often because they don’t feel they have the proper space or don’t know how to maintain their compost. These challenges can be solved with community composting.

Think about location:

Whether community refers to a neighborhood, school or any other group, one of the most important factors that helps composting succeed is proper placement of compost bins or piles. These should be located either at central locations, which people pass frequently during the day, or at destinations that are part of the daily routine, like parks, schools, or shopping centers.

This makes it more convenient for people to bring their scraps, and if it’s in a place they see often, they will also constantly be reminded of the option to compost. Depending on the community or area, it may make sense to have several smaller locations rather than one larger one. Bins can be big or small, and located outdoors or inside. If outdoors, ideally the space should be dry and shady.

Hours of access should be convenient and posted at the site. For example, a compost at or near a school should make sure to be open during student drop-off and pick-up times.

No matter the location of the compost, remember to place trash bins near the compost pile—while it’s best to bring organic waste in a compostable bag or reusable container, some people may forget or have brought items that can’t be composted. A trash bin encourages people not to litter and not to put the wrong things in the compost.

Have a dedicated committee or group to oversee composting

While composting is simple, it does require some planning and maintenance. To make sure the few essential tasks get done, it’s best to have a dedicated group to oversee starting the compost piles, maintaining them and distributing the end product—agricultural compost.

One basic but important task is to start the pile correctly, with a combination of so-called “browns,” or items like dead leaves and cardboard, which are rich in carbon; and “greens,” like vegetable peels and coffee grounds, which are rich in nitrogen. Once the decomposing process begins, the balance between browns and greens is less important, and more flexible.

The compost should be placed directly on the earth, to soak up drainage, or if it is indoors, there should be a tray underneath to collect any drainage.

Those in charge should monitor dampness of the compost pile; while it should be damp, it can get too wet or too dry. An overly wet bin can be easily remedied by adding more “bowns,” and a dry bin can be fixed by adding a bit of water or larger amounts of food scraps.

It’s also recommended to have dedicated people keeping an eye on the compost so that its bin doesn’t overflow, or a pile does not reach beyond its dedicated space. When the compost is ready—when it looks like dirt and you can’t recognize the food or other scraps in it—someone needs to make sure it is set aside or distributed to those who want to use it in their gardens.

Remember to be welcoming to anyone interested in helping out or volunteering with the compost. Composting is simple enough that with a few minutes of instructions, anyone can help maintain it. Working together not only makes composting a smooth process, but also builds community leadership.

Have an educational outreach component

There should always be signs posted near compost bins with instructions about what can and can’t be put into them. Signs on the location can also explain the benefits of composting, or how it works.

It’s a good idea to have a social media account for people to follow for reminders about what can be composted, hours of the site and other practical matters. In addition, communities can share articles and information about the benefits of composting, photos of how the compost pile changes over time, and success stories of those who have used the end product in their gardens.

The last stage of the process—distributing the compost that community members can use on their gardens or potted plants– is also an opportunity to offer informal educational sessions about the benefits of compost and how it can help rejuvenate the earth. Possible activities also include getting together an organized group to put compost in a community garden, or to deliver it to others in the neighborhood or community.

Starting a compost pile and creating ways for everyone to participate and follow the process will have a direct impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also building a sense of purpose and community. Communities can also inspire each other, resulting in more composing across the country.

Author: Michael Wass, VP of North America, TIPA

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