According to EPA here are some benefits of composting:
Compost use can result in a variety of environmental benefits. The following are a few of the most important benefits:
Compost enriches soils
Compost has the ability to help regenerate poor soils. The composting process encourages the production of beneficial micro-organisms (mainly bacteria and fungi) which in turn break down organic matter to create humus. Humus–a rich nutrient-filled material–increases the nutrient content in soils and helps soils retain moisture. Compost has also been shown to suppress plant diseases and pests, reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers, and promote higher yields of agricultural crops.
Compost helps cleanup (remediate) contaminated soil
The composting process has been shown to absorb odors and treat semivolatile and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including heating fuels, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and explosives. It has also been shown to bind heavy metals and prevent them from migrating to water resources or being absorbed by plants. The compost process degrades and, in some cases, completely eliminates wood preservatives, pesticides, and both chlorinated and nonchlorinated hydrocarbons in contaminated soils.
Compost helps prevent pollution
Composting organic materials that have been diverted from landfills ultimately avoids the production of methane and leachate formulation in the landfills. Compost has the ability to prevent pollutants in stormwater runoff from reaching surface water resources. Compost has also been shown to prevent erosion and silting on embankments parallel to creeks, lakes, and rivers, and prevents erosion and turf loss on roadsides, hillsides, playing fields, and golf courses.
Using compost offers economic benefits
Using compost can reduce the need for water, fertilizers, and pesticides. It serves as a marketable commodity and is a low-cost alternative to standard landfill cover and artificial soil amendments. Composting also extends municipal landfill life by diverting organic materials from landfills and provides a less costly alternative to conventional methods of remediating (cleaning) contaminated soil.
There are many ways to compost:
You can have an outdoor compost pile that you hand turn regularly.
Spinning composters are also used outside so you don’t have to hand turn the compost materials.
You can have an indoor composter which is excellent way to compost when living in apartments, condo’s, townhouses or simply for indoor convenience.
The Nature Mill Composter allows you to add up to 120 lbs. of food and paper items a month without the hassles of maintenance. No installation required, simply plug into a power outlet. The computer in the machine controls mixing, air flow, temperature and moisture for ideal compost, and rich food for your garden, with one batch every two weeks. Size: 20’’ high x 20’’ deep x 12’’ wide. Fits into a standard kitchen cabinet. Features include: foot pedal for convenient hands-free operation, vacation mode (automatically activates after a period of inactivity to conserve energy, and optimize heat and mixing for curing), security locking feature for public areas such as offices or restaurants, and spare carbon filter included for years of hassle-free operation.
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