Commercial Composting

Commercial or industrial composting is large-scale composting which is designed to handle a high volume of organic waste, as opposed to private or home composting, which handles organic waste from one household or facility. The compost produced by a commercial composting facility can be sold to farms and nurseries, applied to municipal landscaping, or sold to individuals, depending on how the facility is organized. With a growing interest in composting, recycling, and reducing the environmental impact of doing business in the early 21st century, commercial composting operations expanded radically.

A typical commercial composting operation collects waste from restaurants, grocery stores, and other commercial facilities which handle food. It may also collect yard waste from nurseries and landscaping companies. Some commercial composters handle greenwaste bins from individual citizens, as well, with people putting yard and food waste into a separate container and setting that container out for regular collection along with garbage and recycling. Some commercial composting facilities work side by side with municipal garbage and recycling agencies to make it easy for people to take advantage of the services of the composter, while others are privatized.

 For Earth Day and every day… complete the cycle: return nutrients to the Earth  

Want to reduce how much trash you generate? Start a new science project and get something in return?

Home Composting

(if you already have a compost bin or pile – Spring is a great time to get out there and turn it!)

Composting organic material instead of bringing it to the landfill with your trash is an easy way to help the environment and save money.

• Composting reduces greenhouse gas emissions (some people estimate that composting a 5 gallon bucket equals 1 gallon of gasoline saved).
• Composting reduces costs and energy associated with managing waste.
• Compost is a better use of organic matter and nutrients than sending food scraps to the landfill.

1. Start composting your kitchen food scraps and yard waste There are lots of ways to compost:

BACKYARD

• Buy a bin from your local waste pickup provider or a garden supply store. There are many different sizes and shapes to choose from.
• Make your own bin

TIPS: Basic Information about composting from the EPA Master Composter website

WORMS Worms are a great option if you don’t have a lot of space.

COMMERCIAL Contribute your organics to a regional or commercial composting facility.

2. Use compost instead of commercial fertilizers on your lawn and garden

• Compost improves soil structure and moisture retention.
• Compost reduces the need for additional fertilizers.
• Compost reduces soil erosion and protects water quality.
• Compost decreases soil-borne diseases and the need for pesticides