Episode 15: Composting for Conservation Labs with Collective Resource
“If it was once alive, we can compost it”. Mary Beth and Erlene talk to Lindsey about the nuances of composting plant and animal based materials, from food scraps, to yard waste, to materials we use in conservation labs.
They “break down” the differences between the types of composting techniques, what options people around the US might have available to them and where to get started.=
58% of the methane that comes off the landfill comes from the fermentation and breaking down of food and organic waste - most of which isn’t utilized in a useful way and instead impacts our environment negatively.
Good news: Most of the plant and animal-based materials we use CAN be composted in MOST compost methods, but for best case: commercial composting is the most comprehensive route. It just takes some research effort to find what local options are available to you and your lab.
They also offer tips for managing your own lab-wide or workplace kitchen compost collection to avoid odors, pests, and materials that don’t break down congruently. No matter how small, the pieces add up. Moving organic material out of the landfill can be significantly impactful for our communities: for our water, soil, and atmosphere.
Resources from this episode: