Composting

Composting

SWRC’s constant promotion of composting might seem like a broken record, but composting is a really important part of waste reduction. Research into residential waste in Saskatoon and Regina, as well as in many other cities around the world, shows that, after curbside recycling has been implemented, around 50% of household waste is compostable. Also, when organic materials break down in landfills, they produce methane, a greenhouse gas much more dangerous than carbon dioxide.

If you compost, not only will you be able to reduce your household waste by half and lower your carbon footprint, but you will also be creating better soil. One of the best things about composting is that it is such a natural process that it can happen with very little work on our part.

Only a few Saskatchewan communities — Lloydminster, Lashburn, Dalmeny, Osler, Langham and Borden — have year-round curbside collection for compost. Even if you have access to a curbside bin, there are benefits to composting on your own. You will have the end product to fertilize your plants and garden and you can directly participate in the Circular Economy by turning a waste product into something useful! Composting at home also lowers your carbon footprint by not needing to transport the heavy contents of your compost bin to a composting facility.

As for the type of composting you could try, SWRC is lucky to have Lisa Howse as our Composting Education Coordinator. She has created many resources on our website about different composting techniques. There is also a Compost Quiz that helps you figure out which composting style would work best for you. If you have further questions feel free to contact Lisa at [email protected].

Do you compost, what type are you doing?