Let's Go Compost is proud to support landfill diversion efforts across the globe. Which may have you wondering: what the heck is landfill diversion anyways, why should I care, and what does it have to do with composting?
Landfill diversion is the process of diverting waste from going into landfills, and instead finding alternative uses for that waste. The goal of landfill diversion is to reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfills, which reduces the negative environmental impacts associated with landfills. When organic waste decomposes in a landfill, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Diverting organic waste through composting, anaerobic digestion, or other methods helps to reduce these emissions.
There are many ways to divert waste from landfills, including recycling, composting, and repurposing materials. Let's Go Compost supports landfill diversion through our two-part effort: first, we repurpose otherwise non-recyclable plastic buckets into free compost bins (most compost bins utilize new plastic, thus creating more waste than it may be worth). Secondly, our free compost bins encourage communities across the globe to reduce their own organic waste at home, in their classrooms, and beyond.
When food waste can be diverted from landfills through composting, we can turn our trash into a nutrient-rich soil amendment that can be used to improve soil health and support plant growth.
So, why should you compost to reduce the amount of waste you're sending to the landfill? Composting is a critical component of sustainable waste management, resource conservation, and the reduction of waste-related pollution. Landfills require large amounts of land, and as populations grow and waste production increases, the demand for landfill space also increases. Diverting waste from landfills reduces the need for new landfills and extends the lifespan of existing landfills (meaning less natural land needs to be destroyed to simply store our trash).
Are you ready to get started diverting your trash from the landfill through composting? Click here to register for Let's Go Compost's next free compost bin pick up.