Tips From The Backyard

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Reduce, reuse, recycle—it’s a phrase we’re all familiar with. However, it’s easy to take it for granted in the hustle and bustle of daily life. Earth Day, which takes place on April 22nd each year, serves as a reminder to appreciate our planet and do our part in helping the environment. It’s a day dedicated to raising awareness and taking action to protect the planet. However, one day isn’t enough to reverse the negative impacts of our habits. It’s crucial that we stay conscious of our actions all year long, and recycling is a great place to start.

The Food Waste Dilemma: A Call to Action through Composting

While recycling items such as plastic, glass, and aluminum is a step in the right direction, what about food waste? Food waste is a pressing problem that contributes to the release of methane gas—a potent greenhouse gas—when organic waste ends up in landfills. The lack of air in landfills speeds up the process of decay and releases methane gas into the atmosphere.

One solution to this problem is composting. Composting can help divert waste from landfills and reduce methane emissions, leading to a healthier planet. With the GEOBIN® Composter, you can compost all year round, regardless of the climate in your region.

Composting Tips for Each Season

Spring: If you have an established compost bin or are just starting, spring is a great time of year for composting. As temperatures rise, they will help speed up decomposition. If you have organic material from winter in your bin, or you’re starting a new compost pile, you will need to balance it with some carbon materials like dried leaves or straw.

Summer: The heat of summer can speed up decomposition, but you will need to keep an eye on moisture levels and add water when necessary. With the grass clippings and food waste from your summer barbecues, you may find yourself adding a lot of nitrogen-rich “greens.” Make sure to balance it with carbon-rich materials like autumn leaves, paper, straw, or wood chips.

Fall: With the abundance of nitrogen and carbon materials, fall is a wonderful time for composting. Your compost pile will love the combination of grass clippings and autumn leaves. Don’t forget to compost your jack-o-lanterns as well, as it will reduce waste in landfills and help nourish your soil.

Winter: Cold weather doesn’t have to stop your composting efforts. While decomposition may be slower, you can keep your compost pile active by adding kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, and carbon-rich materials like dried leaves and straw. Insulation will help keep your compost active, and snow acts as a great insulator. If you don’t have snow, you can use cardboard or straw to cover your bin, and place it in a sunny spot in your yard.

Next time you are making dinner or cleaning out your refrigerator, take stock of the food waste that ends up in your trash bin. The amount may seem insignificant at the time, but when you think about the millions of people doing the same thing as you, the impact is huge.

This Earth Day, consider setting up an at-home composting system, such as the GEOBIN® Composter, to do your part in reducing greenhouse emissions and helping return vital nutrients to the earth.