Benefits of Composting

Composting is undoubtedly the way of the future. Biotuff investigates the benefits of home composting and the impact it has not only on your gardens but also on the environment.

“Going green has never been so important,” Nadia Steele from Biotuff says. “As the world struggles with the impact of climate change, many homes are now searching for greener alternatives to help reduce their carbon emissions. Composting is certainly forging the way towards a greener environment while reducing landfills and creating a more sustainable future.” 

The great news is that many councils have also noted the vast benefits of composting facilities, with many now offering kerbside collections for green garden waste and kitchen waste to transform into golden soil. 

The trend is also continuing, with many food-related businesses now opting to use compostable bio-plastics, allowing consumers to make a more eco-friendly choice when disposing of their rubbish.

The benefits are enormous when you consider that the typical household can reuse more than 300kilograms of waste each year if they choose to compost – either at home or through a council-run commercial composting facility. 

“That’s a huge amount of waste that is not going into landfills. Not to mention, when food scraps and garden waste are put into landfills, they create methane gas, the highest carbon emitter, 84 more times toxic than Co2 over a 20year span.”

Plus, composting is the golden ingredient for soils. So, our rubbish can be transformed into nutrients that can help us grow bigger, better trees and delicious, nutritious vegetables. 

“It’s as simple as starting your composting regime or getting savvier with what you add to your FOGO (Food Organics Garden Organics) bins,” Steele says. “If consumers understood how easy it is to start their compost buckets or garden piles, or pressure their local councils or apartment Strata’s for compostable collection options, we could save an enormous amount of landfill waste.”

How To Make Compost

Choosing to compost can come in different forms, from tumblers to specially designed buckets to create a small garden pile. Of course, the size of your composting abilities will be determined by your available space. The great news is that if you don’t have the area, you can still easily ensure your kitchen waste is disposed of correctly by contacting your local council. 

“When it comes to creating compost, there are three main components,” Steele says. First, for your compost to develop, it must contain the correct amount of moisture and water to allow the breakdown of your organic material. Brown material is also essential – think dead leaves, sticks, small branches, and the important green material. This is your kitchen waste, fruit and vegetables, and food scraps. 

Don’t forget your grass clippings also. Greens provide nitrogen to your compost pile. Your green and brown organic material should be about the same amount in your compost bin or pile. 

“The compost is ready when the organic matter at the bottom is rich and dark,” Steele says. “The advantages this has for your garden are massive!”

Using compost in your garden can protect against plant diseases and pests while encouraging good bacteria in your soil. It also reduces the chemicals you add to your garden to enable it to grow. A win-win for the garden and the earth!

“If you want to help the environment, but you do not have the time or garden for composting, there are many ways you can help the environment and ensure you reduce your emissions,” Steele suggests. “Looking out for biodegradable and compostable bioplastics is a great way to ensure you are helping keep the planet green and reducing your environmental impact.”

These handy bags can also be great for lining your organic kitchen waste bins. Contact your local council to ask about composting facilities in your area and if they offer FOGO collections. More importantly, ensure you follow the rules and regulations for council composting and only put the correct waste into the FOGO collection. 

“And don’t forget to get the kids involved! Creating compost and teaching the next generation the importance of reducing kitchen waste is vital for ensuring their green future.”

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