Why Composting Matters

Why Composting Matters: From Farm to City

When most people lived on farms or had gardens, watermelon rinds, corn husks, potato peels, and other food scraps were naturally returned to the earth—fed to animals or added to compost piles near the garden, where they decomposed and enriched the soil each spring. Today, many of us are city dwellers in condos, apartments, and homes with smaller yards, without access to traditional composting methods. Yet it’s more important than ever that we find ways to keep food scraps out of our landfills.

Here’s why: when food waste ends up in landfills, it decomposes without oxygen and produces methane—a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. The amount of organic material going to landfills is staggering, and we can all play a role in reducing it.

The Little Black Bin to the Rescue

Our community compost bins are a must-have resource! We have two located on the back side of the church, available for church members and friends to use.

How to Get Started:

Find a covered container to collect scraps at home—an ice cream pail, 5-gallon bucket, old Tupperware, or anything similar will work. Some people keep their container under the sink, in the garage, or even in the freezer. Bring it to the compost bin and empty it whenever convenient. For faster decomposition, cut scraps into smaller pieces before adding them.

What Can You Compost?

A complete list is posted on the bulletin board, but remember this simple rule: “If it grows, it goes!”

Important exceptions:

• No animal products: meat, bones, eggs, or dairy (these attract unwanted critters)
• No yard waste: grass clippings, branches, or brush (these fill the bin too quickly—please take yard waste to the city drop-off location instead)

Together, we can make a real difference in reducing methane emissions and caring for our community and planet!