How Composting Can Help Combat Climate Change
By: Charles Doering-Powell, Pembroke Hill School, Sr. and Blog Editor
Climate change is one of the largest threats facing life on Earth and the current and future generations to come. As such, we should do as much as we can to help combat the drastic global warming and carbon emissions crises’ that we’re faced with, and one of those ways is composting.
Climate change is caused when greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, and other pollutants in the air get trapped in the atmosphere and trap heat that would originally dissipate into space but cannot pass due to the pollution. The effects of climate change spread far and wide, including the melting of polar ice caps, which causes sea levels to rise and animals to lose their homes, heatwaves, and more. The effects of climate change can be drastic, so it is important to do as much as we can to help reduce our carbon footprint, and one of the ways to do so is by composting.
Composting is when you take fruit and vegetable food scraps (avocado skins, banana peels, etc.) or any other compostable, biodegradable materials like coffee grounds and they’re broken down by certain organisms to revitalize soil. More nutrient-rich soil allows plants to grow greener, healthier, and more bountiful, which in turn provides more opportunity for carbon dioxide absorption and oxygen production. Composting is an essential part of reducing our carbon footprint - when food waste sits in packed, dark landfills instead of in a natural, compost-friendly environment, it takes longer to degrade and produces methane, a harmful greenhouse gas that only furthers the warming of the globe. By composting, we actively help fight climate change by cutting down on methane production.
While it is certainly not the only thing we can do to help reduce our carbon footprint, composting is an effective and mutually beneficial first step that we all can take to combat climate change. In doing so, we help secure a home for future generations of humans, plants, and animals alike.
