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Why Community Composting? |
Composting
In the UK 20 million tons of rubbish is produced each year. About 25-30% of this rubbish is in the form of kitchen scraps or garden waste. Composting reduces the amount of waste going to landfill sites. This has a number of benefits that include :
- the improvement of the environment around the landfill site by the eradication of potential pollutants that come from the incorrect treatment of compostable materials
- the reduction in the amount of land needed for landfill
- the reduction in landfill taxes* for waste disposal companies making the overall cost of dealing with waste cheaper
Composting also reduces the pollution from garden bonfires as the waste from the garden is put to better use in a compost heap.
Compost heaps make fine homes for a number of creatures such as hedgehogs, grass snakes and worms. These creatures spread out from the heap and create a rich habitat in the surrounding garden.
The composting process produces a valuable resource for use on the land. This creates an ideal alternative to peat and will therefore help stem the threat to peatlands.
Community Composting
So much for the benefits of composting, but why produce compost in a community composting project? There are number of reasons that compost is produced in this way. The following is taken from a checklist compiled by the Community Composting Network. Community composting :
- Recycles one person's waste into another's resource
- Pools raw materials enhancing the chances of creating a good end product
- Means fewer car trips to the tip
- Shares labour and enthusiasm
- Shares expenses, materials and tools
- Groups can attract funds more easily than individuals
- Builds community spirit
- Provides education about recycling, composting and soil care
- Encourages an exchange between sectors of the community such as young and old, beginner and expert
- Raises awareness of environment issues and problems
- Helps Local Authorities fulfill their commitment to Local Agenda 21* issues
- Makes it easier to take advantage of local marketing opportunities
If this has convinced you about the value of community composting then take a look at our other pages and find out more.