Each week, when the time comes to dispose of (or recycle) yard trimmings and food waste, we all have two main options: 1) combine food scraps, soiled paper, and other biodegradable materials with yard waste to be composted; or, 2) put everything in the garbage bin, ensuring high trash collection costs, an increasing reliance on landfills, and a disconnection from the natural cycle of nutrients. We think #1 sounds better, don't you?

Yard and food waste make up roughly 30% of the waste stream. Composting your kitchen waste and yard trimmings helps divert that waste from the landfill, waterways and water treatment facilities, and is a natural process that recycles decomposed organic materials into a rich soil.

Composting can be done cost-effectively at any scale from the individual household, to the municipal level. Backyard composting is a rapidly growing industry, with several techniques and options available to meet the needs of each user. If you are interested in organic gardening, backyard composting is a great way to produce your own high quality, low-cost fertilizer.

In many cities in San Mateo County, businesses can compost food scraps, soiled paper, yard trimmings, and most other biodegradable substances by setting up a business food waste account with their waste collection service provider. There is usually a small fee for regular pickup, but the service costs less than traditional trash pickup and will likely begin to generate significant savings in little time by allowing businesses to decrease their trash volume. Although currently unavailable to most residents of San Mateo County, a pilot program is underway to begin offering residential food waste accounts.

*Information gathered from the San Mateo County RecycleWorks' website: www.recycleworks.org.

Pic: www.gardengrowth.com

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