Across our nation communities are rapidly running out of landfill space. Consequently, we must make our landfills last longer. One way to do this is to compost food and yard waste, which comprises about 34% of the average household trash can in Wake County. 

Homeowners who compost their food and yard waste help prolong the life of their local landfill and reduce the costs and impact of collecting and disposing of household garbage. Keeping organic waste out of the landfill also reduces methane and carbon emissions, lowering your carbon footprint.

Most importantly, composting also recycles the nutrients in organic waste to create a valuable soil amendment for healthy soil and gardens. Compost enriches soil in many ways; adding valuable nutrients to soil, helping soil retain moisture and making soil easier to dig. Compost help plants grow bigger and stronger, by providing them with the essential minerals and nutrients they need to suppress plant diseases and pests naturally, without the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. 

Composting can also serve as a great educational tool to teach children about the nutrient cycle and natural resource conservation. Want to learn more? Watch "Kiss the Ground" a great video on why we should compost our food and yard waste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqDQD8cvO5Y