Food Waste Facts — Composting vs. Landfill

What’s the harm in tossing that banana peel, or apple core into the garbage? After-all, food and veggies should be among the items that decompose the fastest in a landfill! Unfortunately, that popular mindset is far from the truth.

In fact, it can take years for food to break down in a landfill because the anaerobic processes prevent veggies and food scraps from decomposing. Landfills are often designed with underground anaerobic chambers, meaning there is no oxygen that reaches the waste that is trying to decompose.

The process of decomposition occurs when there are billions of micro-organisms working to break down organic material. This requires oxygen and the right blend of materials to ensure that conditions are optimal for the right micro and macro-organisms to break down food and kill harmful pathogens.

When food waste is added to carbon rich materials like wood chips and leaves, and oxygen is able to flow freely through the pile, the process of decomposing takes months – not years! And the end product is a nutrient rich soil amendment that can be used to grow food and restore soil health.

Considering that food and organic waste makes up to 30 percent of the average household waste stream in the United States, composting can be a great option for those looking to live a more sustainable and less wasteful lifestyle!