Many people compost their food scraps and yard waste because they think it’s the right thing to do.
A new University of Washington study confirms that sentiment, and also calculates the environmental benefits associated with keeping these organic materials out of landfills.
The biggest takeaway for residents of Seattle, San Francisco and other places that offer curbside compost pickup is to take advantage of that service — and pat yourself on the back for using it.
“You should definitely pay attention to where you put your food waste, and you should feel good you live in a place where compost is an option,” said paper author Sally Brown, a UW research associate professor of environmental and forest sciences.
Food waste in particular generates a significant amount of the greenhouse gas methane when it’s buried in landfills, but not so when composted. U.S. cities and counties that offer composting prevent otherwise trash-bound food scraps from decomposing in landfills and generating methane — and they get a significant carbon credit as a result.
Read more at UW Today »