Slingin’ Mud (& Mulch)
Nature’s soil aerators, earthworms improve and condition the soil as they burrow in search of food. Earthworms excrete a highly nitrous fertilizer (called castings), which contain 5X the available nitrogen, 7X the available phosphorus, 3X the exchangeable magnesium, 11X the available potash, and 1.5X the calcium found in 6 inches of top soil. This from Arbico Organics, where you can find the worms themselves for sale.
The US Epa has information on their site regarding the 4 R’s, reduce, reuse, recycle, rebuy, and this juicy information on compost:In large part, disposal of yard trimmings—such as grass clippings and trimmings from bushes, trees, and other yard vegetation—in landfills is generally not necessary, since backyard composting and yard trimmings collection and recovery programs have become quite popular. Composting yard trimmings saves landfill space and reduces methane production in landfills. Methane gas can contribute to global climate change.
Backyard or onsite composting can be conducted by residents and other small-quantity generators of organic waste on their own property. By composting these materials onsite, homeowners and select businesses can significantly reduce the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of and thereby save money from avoided disposal costs. Learn how to create your own compost pile.
Backyard or onsite composting is suitable for converting yard trimmings and food scraps into compost that can be applied on site. This method should not be used to compost animal products or large quantities of food scraps. Households, commercial establishments, and institutions (e.g., universities, schools, hospitals) can leave grass clippings on the lawn—known as “grasscycling“—where the cuttings will decompose naturally and return some nutrients back to the soil.
Backyard or onsite composters also might keep leaves in piles for eventual use as mulch around trees and scrubs to retain moisture. Climate and seasonal variations do not present major challenges to backyard or onsite composting because this method typically involves small quantities of organic waste. When conditions change—for example, if a rainy season approaches—the process can be adjusted accordingly without many complications.
Improper management of food scraps can cause odors and also might attract unwanted attention from insects or animals. Backyard or onsite composting requires very little time or equipment. Education is the most critical aspect of backyard or onsite composting. Local communities might hold composting demonstrations and seminars to encourage homeowners or businesses to compost on their own properties.The conversion of organic material to compost can take up to two years, but manual turning can hasten the process considerably (e.g., 3 to 6 months). The resulting natural fertilizer can be applied to lawns and gardens to help condition the soil and replenish nutrients. Compost, however, should not be used as potting soil for houseplants because of the presence of weed and grass seeds.
Food leftovers are the single-largest component of the waste stream by weight in the United States. Americans throw away more than 25 percent of the food we prepare, about 96 billion pounds of food waste each year. Food waste includes uneaten food and food preparation scraps from residences or households, commercial establishments like restaurants, institutional sources like school cafeterias, and industrial sources like factory lunchrooms. The nation spends about 1 billion dollars a year to dispose of food waste.
In 2007, almost 12.5 percent of the total municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in American households was food scraps and less than three percent was recovered. The rest was thrown away and disposed in landfills or combusted in incinerators.
The decomposition of food and other waste under anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions in landfills produces methane, a greenhouse gas (GHG) 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Landfills are the largest human-related source of methane in the United States, accounting for 34 percent of all methane emissions. Recover ((i.e. food donations) and recycling (i.e., composting) diverts organic materials from landfills and incinerators, thereby reducing GHG emissions from landfills and waste combustion.
Food waste recovery and recycling is already occurring across the country. State governments are encouraging businesses (e.g., supermarkets, restaurants, institutions) to separate excess, uneaten food for donations and to compost the remainder. Reusing and recycling excess food saves money by reducing disposal fees. By separating food waste, businesses can inventory the excess food they are creating and then implement source reduction practices to save money. Several local governments provide curbside collection of homeowner food waste for composting at municipal or commercial facilities. Many homeowners also are composting their kitchen waste in their own backyards and even in their kitchen using worm bins (known as “vermicomposting“).
Nearly six million tons of wood waste (e.g., urban wood waste, woody debris from suburban land clearing, and rural forestry residuals) were generated in 2003 according to the EPA. In fact, wood comprises the largest percentage of the residential construction and demolition materials (C&D) waste stream – approximately 40 to 50 percent of residential new construction materials – according to the National Association of Home Builders Research Center.
Prior to 1990, there was limited recycling of wood waste in the United States. Today, EPA estimates there are more than 500 wood processing facilities across the country.
Markets for recovered wood vary across the United States according to regional and local supply and demand. The current market, however, is dominated by mulch and fuel applications that pay between $12 and $24 per ton for processed wood. Wood waste from construction and demolition activities is attractive as a fuel because of its low moisture content. Processed or chipped wood is also used as a composting bulk agent and as animal bedding. Salvaged or reused wood products are the highest value items but typically require the highest costs for sorting and processing. In addition, recovered wood can be used to manufacturer value-added products such as medium density fiberboard and particleboard; these manufacturers demand high-quality feed stocks, however, which can be difficult to achieve on a consistent basis.
The demolition industry is well established and is increasing its efforts to recover wood waste. In addition, the deconstruction industry continues to grow and salvage an increasing percentage of materials from old buildings. Deconstruction efforts recover and reuse wood for flooring, doors, windows, and other applications. A number of independent lumber mills have retooled their operations to process reclaimed timbers, as well.
Federal and local air and water regulations provide an incentive for wood recovery by discouraging inappropriate burning or discarding of woody debris. A major barrier to increased wood recovery, however, is the lack of grade standards for recovered wood. These standards include grading rules, engineering properties, and a grade stamp. There is also a need for technical performance testing to investigate the structural integrity of recovered wood.
Yeah, that was a bit much more than you wanted to know, wasn’t it. Did you know all that was being done by the EPA is almost all that’s been being done by simple farmers and good ol’ boys for the last couple dozen centuries? Take the initiative, even if you live in a big city. Take your little scrap of grass and dirt, and turn it into a showcase. Adopt a neighborhood tree, and watch it grow. Learn what you can, and build your dream planet back to health!
The EPA has also provided a long, somewhat boring, and clinically worded analysis of composting, located HERE.
