Recycling Our Food April 4, 2008 What is compost? Compost is
formed when organic matter (material that comes from plants or
animals) decomposes aerobically (with oxygen). The resulting
nitrogen- and carbon-rich substance can be added to soil to
improve its structure, provide and hold soil nutrients, prevent
erosion, and encourage beneficial insects and microorganisms.
When compostable food scraps and yard debris are sent to the
landfill, not only are their valuable nutrients wasted, but they
can actually cause environmental harm. In the landfill, organic
materials decompose anaerobically (without oxygen), releasing
methane, a greenhouse gas that is 23 times more potent than
carbon dioxide. Landfills account for 34% of methane emissions
in the United States. Meanwhile, America is losing its soil
fertility and topsoil at alarming rates. When food scraps are
recycled, either in a backyard compost pile or as part of a
municipal composting system, they are turned from waste into a
resource and used to enrich garde