Composting might be the best example of a truly circular system at work. Composting is the natural breakdown of organic material (kitchen and yard materials) by micro-organisms (bacteria and fungi), insects and worms. The material produced, (compost) is a dark, crumbly, earthy smelling material that is great for your garden!
Different Composting Methods
-
Backyard Composting - adding Greens (nitrogen rich organic waste) and Browns (carbon rich yard waste) to a compost bin. The materials are broken down by naturally occurring microbes. There are different styles of bins to suit your needs!
-
Vermicomposting or Worm-Composting - adding kitchen scraps to a bin containing worms. The worms break down the organic matter and the result (worm castings) produces incredibly fertile compost.
How Can I Get a Backyard Composter?
City of London residents can purchase from an EnviroDepot for $35 each (taxes included). There are four different units available, based on manufacturer availability. Click here to see the selection of backyard composters and get started!
What Can I Do with Organic Waste?
One shift we need to make together is to treat organic materials (like fruit and vegetable peelings, uneaten fruits and vegetables, etc.) not as waste, but as a resource. Organic waste has some incredible uses that can help us transition to a circular economy, one where we make use of resources in the cycle before discarding them as waste. Here’s what we can do with organic waste:
- Your backyard compost can be used as natural fertilizer for your garden or a community garden.
- See how your compost can be used for urban agriculture at home here.
- Get local. Ask your local farms, restaurants, and neighbours if they can make use of your organic waste. Chances are, they’d be able to make use of it!
- At a larger scale (Industrial, Commercial, or Institutional), compost can be used by farms, plant nurseries, garden centres, and grocery stores.
- Regrowing your food scraps instead of putting it in the compost bin. Make a garden with your kitchen scraps! This is a great family-friendly activity to watch your food grow in water!
Image: a black rotating compost bin