While the word composting may only conjure up images of nutrient-dense fertilizer you can purchase at a local garden store, the best way to acquire compost is not at a cash register but by making your own at home. The process is luckily simple, great for the environment and best of all, it reduces the food waste you regularly dispose of in the garbage can or down the disposal— waste that later ends up in land fills and contributes to greenhouse gas production. Read on to learn about the benefits of starting your own compost pile.

Lower Garbage Bills

Constantly emptying trash bags can be a hassle for any homeowner or cleaning service, but home composting removes a big chunk of the material that eventually ends up in the trash. Almost any organic material can be thrown in a compost bin or pile and can even lower your monthly waste disposal service bill if you pay by the kilogram.

You can also compost yard materials like leaves, grass clippings, and fallen branches that can save you the gas and money you would have used driving them to the dump.

Free Fertilizer

As gardeners know, fertilizer is an important aspect of keeping plants healthy and in full-bloom. Instead of purchasing costly fertilizer with potentially hazardous chemicals, you could be using your own natural, organic compost recycled from your own dinner plate. Unlike at-home compost, synthetic fertilizers are often too high in nitrogen and can actually deplete the natural nutrients in your soil. Then, after a heavy rainstorm, those harmful fertilizers can end up in streams or rivers as chemical run-off and will deplete natural wildlife along the way.

Decreased Water Usage

Because compost absorbs water, when it is fed to plants, it will slowly release its storage and result in a lesser need for constant watering during summer months. Depending on the size of your garden or yard, watering can be a time consuming process that composting may just eliminate. This can lead to decreased water bills and less time spent with a hose in hand.

Fuel & Energy Savings

Although this benefit doesn't directly affect a homeowner, it is included as an environmental advantage. Unlike paper and plastic waste, organic waste (like food) contains high amounts of water and is extremely heavy to transport— leading to greater fuel and energy costs to operate waste management vehicles. Recycling this natural waste into compost is a great way to decrease fossil fuels used to power these transportation vehicles.

Share