Nearly half of all waste generated is organic and compostable. When left unmanaged, it releases methane, a powerful greenhouse gas (GHG) that contaminates ecosystems and contributes to one million premature deaths each year. Composting provides an effective solution, converting organic waste into nutrient-rich soil while promoting biodiversity, improving soil health, and reducing landfill waste.
Governments globally are recognizing the environmental and public health benefits of composting, implementing laws and programs to encourage its adoption as a key strategy for climate action and health protection.
Mismanaged organic waste in landfills produces methane, which is more than 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. This accelerates global warming, exacerbating heatwaves and increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses, asthma, and the spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria. Decomposing waste also generates leachate, a toxic liquid that can contaminate groundwater, posing serious risks to public health, particularly in low-income areas. Composting mitigates leachate production and reduces waste in landfills, offering a safer alternative.
Additionally, organic waste in mixed trash attracts pests such as rats and flies, which can spread zoonotic diseases like leptospirosis and salmonella. By diverting organic waste through composting, these pests are reduced, lowering the transmission of these diseases.
Composting is a vital waste management practice and a public health strategy that helps address climate change, water safety, and disease prevention, fostering healthier, more sustainable communities.
Composting is a natural, aerobic decomposition process where organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, is broken down by microorganisms into a stable, nutrient-rich substance called humus. This process involves bacteria, fungi, and, in some cases, earthworms, which help stabilize organic residues through vermicomposting. The result is a valuable resource that enhances soil fertility, supports plant health, and improves soil structure by increasing its carbon content.
Successful composting requires a mix of nitrogen-rich materials, such as vegetable scraps and grass clippings, with carbon-rich materials like dried leaves, paper, and wood chips. Certain materials, like pet waste, plastics, and dairy products, should be avoided as they can attract pests or introduce harmful pathogens.
In urban areas, composting plays a transformative role by improving the quality of green infrastructure, including parks and community farms. It helps cool urban heat islands, improves air quality, and supports food security, particularly in underserved communities. Composting also contributes to pollution prevention, bioremediation, and plant disease control, making it a foundational practice for climate resilience and community health.
Across the United States, cities and states are ramping up composting initiatives to reduce landfill-bound organic waste and limit methane emissions. For instance, California’s Senate Bill 1383 mandates a 75% reduction in organic waste disposal and a 20% increase in edible food recovery by 2025. Cities like San Francisco have already diverted over 80% of their waste through composting programs, while Vermont introduced a statewide mandate in 2020.
Global efforts, spearheaded by organizations like the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), emphasize the importance of composting as a strategy for reducing GHG emissions, restoring soil health, and promoting sustainable urban development. Recommendations include decentralized composting, separating organic waste at the source, and utilizing efficient composting methods like aerated piles and windrows. Public education campaigns are also critical to increasing global composting adoption.
Urban planners are increasingly integrating composting into green stormwater systems, parks, and urban farms to manage runoff, restore soil health, and reduce urban temperatures. Compost-enriched soils absorb more water, store carbon, and support food production, which is crucial for communities facing climate and health disparities.
Despite its environmental and health benefits, composting remains inaccessible in many low-income communities. These areas often lack the infrastructure needed for composting, such as curbside collection or safe spaces for home composting. To address these barriers, inclusive policies are needed to ensure that all communities, regardless of income, can participate in composting programs. School-based initiatives and community composting projects are helping to reduce food waste and build environmental awareness in these areas.
Composting offers a simple yet powerful tool to protect the environment and public health. By recycling food scraps and yard waste into compost, individuals can help reduce methane emissions, improve air and water quality, and support healthier soils. Small actions, such as starting a compost pile or joining a local program, can have a significant impact on climate change, disease prevention, and soil health. Now is the time to treat composting as a priority for both public health and environmental sustainability, turning everyday waste into a resource that benefits communities and the planet.
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