Composting, a climate solution?

The circular process of composting is a vital tool for fighting climate change. First, separating food scraps and yard waste from entering landfill streams is extremely important because when either of these materials enter a landfill, or anaerobic environment, they release methane gas, which is a leading contributor to greenhouse gasses. Second, when compost is used as a soil amendment, the nutrient-rich organic matter encourages plant growth and therefore photosynthesis, a natural process that uses carbon dioxide and water to create food for plants. Plants pass carbon to the microbial community living in the soil where it remains until the soils are disturbed, causing the carbon to be released back into the atmosphere. Compost-soil mixtures have a great opportunity for being a carbon sink, or an area that is known to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, like the ocean!

The presence of organic matter in compost allows for growth of microorganisms, like fungi and bacteria, creating a really healthy soil environment. These microorganisms are responsible for using their chemical make-ups to break down the organic matter in compost piles, releasing heat in the process, which is why compost piles get so hot! Adding these microscopic helpers to soil helps to reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides because organic nutrients are slowly released over time as the compost decomposes. Chemical fertilizers are engineered so they have to be reapplied each growing season, whereas compost contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, naturally occurring essential nutrients. Microorganisms and macroorganisms, aka earthworms, in compost also help to increase the infiltration rate of soil, meaning that the soil has a greater capacity to absorb water and nutrients. Permeable and porous soils help to improve water quality by reducing the amount of stormwater runoff from entering waterways and enhance soil stability. Erosion is a growing environmental issue in coastal environments, as stormwater runoff and intense precipitation events are leading causes. Increasing construction and green infrastructure projects use compost to mitigate soil erosion and improve water quality.