What is composting? What is composing like in Marin County?
Composting is a key way to reduce one’s personal carbon footprint and promotes sustainability because the nutrients in waste can be recycled into nutrient rich soil in compost versus methane gas in the landfill. In 2014, the Marin Sanitary Service conducted a waste characterization study to determine what was being received from residential landfill carts. This 2014 study found that:
“less than half of the material collected was classified as ”true garbage.”
Approximately 38% of the material could have been placed in the compostables cart” (Source).
Why does this matter?
38% may seem like a low percentage to fixate on, and while the amount of compost collected in Marin County is fairly high because we are a relatively affluent county in terms of overall demographics that have the means to compost at home and school-level and community education about climate change, the 38% is an amount that could make a potentially significant reductions in Marin County residents’ carbon footprints.
Penguins can DU their part to help us do better as a Marin community by composting!
Ultimately, each individual should be examining all ways they can reduce their carbon footprint to mitigate climate change, and composting is a way you can make an impact no matter where you live. Not all sanitary services have green bins for food and yard waste available for curbside pickup, but you can make a difference by creating a small home compost and advocating for the creation of curbside green bins in your community if they are not provided already with trash collection.
