Composting is a great way for us to fight climate change because landfills are surprisingly high in greenhouse gas emissions. Landfills release a lot of methane because they're filled with organic matter, this is stuff like paper, food scraps, and things that would otherwise breakdown in a composting environment. Many people think that organics will breakdown in a landfill, but they won't! That's because landfills aren't aerated properly for decomposition. While it might seem difficult to compost when you don't have a back garden or outdoor space, it's certainly not impossible! Here are some tips to composting even if you don't have your own garden!

The Facts

What is it? 

Composting is an inexpensive, natural process that transforms your kitchen and garden waste into a valuable and nutrient rich food for your garden. It's easy to make and use.

When it comes to composting, it’s important to keep a good mix of carbon and nitrogen.

Carbon is paper, cardboard, newspaper, dry leaves, etc. Nitrogen is your food scraps think coffee grounds, tea leaves, potato peels, and peach pits. Ideally, you want to aim to keep your compost around 50% carbon and 50% nitrogen.

Garden Compost

Find an area in your garden to make your own compost heap or buy a compost bin. It's an inexpensive, natural process that transforms your kitchen and garden waste into a valuable and nutrient rich food for your garden. It's easy to make and use.

Ask Around

Got neighbors or friends with chickens? Have a friend with a backyard or composting service?  This is a great way to meet local people in your area and make a difference together. Plus chickens LOVE any food scraps!

Bokashi

It's a giant bucket to which you add all of your food scraps. (meat and dairy can be added too) Mash it all down, and then add in an activator mix which is full of microbes which hastens the process of decomposition. 

Farmers Market

Most farmers at the farmers market have large compost piles where they store They the odds and ends of fruit and veg that people don't want like carrot tops or radish tops (even though you should 100% be eating those things, ask one of the farmers if you can bring your scraps back to add to their pile. 

Allotment Gardens

Allotment gardens have big compost piles! See if you can join the local Allotment and add your food scraps.

City Composting

Check to see if your city offers composting or if there's a business in town that collects food scraps.

So there you have! Plenty of options to choose from whether you live in a house with a garden or a flat with no outdoor space!