With that said, there are steps you can take, especially, if you live in a home to help combat a silent killer, in addition to CO2, warming our planet called methane gas. This gas is more destructive than CO2 according to Wikipedia, "In terms of global warming potential, methane is over 25 times more detrimental to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Landfills are the third largest source of methane in the US." Although methane gas can be harnessed for energy, it is very expensive to do so and with governments budgets stretched and corporations considering profit feasibility, it will likely go undone. However, each of us could help prevent more methane gas from being produced by starting a compost bin.
Composting can be done very simple by drilling several small holes in a large plastic garbage can on the bottom, sides, and top for air to get in. This air (aerobic instead of anaerobic) getting in is one of the main differences that changes the decomposition of stuff rotting in landfill and rotting in your compost bin. When I say rotting, you may think of the smell of refrigerator that had spoiled food in it, but it's really not like that at all if you feed your compost the right stuff.
The compost must be composed of two chemical elements, namely, nitrogen and carbon. If you have 50/50 mix, it will not stink and will just breakdown over time into a compost that could be used as fertilizer for your soil. Now I'll tell y'all the truth in that I've yet to be able to make the compost you can put on your soil; however, that's alright because it still breaks down as nature intended and I have averted sending it to landfill. Mission accomplished. So, what do I use in my compost bin?
| Compost Materials | Chemical Element |
| Fruit & Peels | Nitrogen |
| Vegetable peels and scraps | Nitrogen |
| Hair | Nitrogen |
| Toe nails | Nitrogen |
| Grass | Nitrogen |
| Coffee ground and filter | Nitrogen |
| Bread (w/o dairy products) | Nitrogen |
| Grains | Nitrogen |
| Egg shells | Neutral |
| Rinse water | Neutral |
| Paper (shredded is better) | Carbon |
| Cardboard (torn in pieces) | Carbon |
| Leaves | Carbon |
| Dried grass clippings | Carbon |
| Small rotted wood | Carbon |
| Dryer lint | Carbon |
| Nut shells | Carbon |
This is to name a few, but basically anything organic that isn't dairy (or has a diary product on it) or meat can go into your compost bin. Don't be alarmed if you see insects in your compost because they are all part of this natural process helping decompose this waste, but it is also small microorganisms you cannot see doing a lot of the work to break down these materials over time. You can continue to add waste to it and see it disappear like a bottomless pit. That is mother nature for ya!
If you are now ready to start your bin, here are a few tips to follow:
- You want to keep your compost bin damp but not wet, so every now and then give it a little water
- With a shovel or rake, try to turn it over or mix it up by bringing the stuff on the bottom to top
- To keep gnats away, ensure to cover your nitrogen elements with heavy cover of carbon items listed above
- If your compost smells a little, then add more carbon as this often signal mix is off
- Keep about a 50/50 mix of carbon and nitrogen
References:
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landfill_gas
Video: How to Make a Trash Can Composter
PS: Please share your experience by leaving a comment on this post. Also please be sure share this content to your friends and family if you find it useful. I thank you in advance.
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