It's estimated that as much as much as 50 percent of our trash is organic waste that could be composted instead.
As reported by The New York Times in October of last year, “zero-waste” management is gaining ground, as is the city composting that helps make it possible:
“Across the nation, an antigarbage strategy known as ‘zero waste’ is moving from the fringes to the mainstream, taking hold in school cafeterias, national parks, restaurants, stadiums and corporations,” writes Leslie Kaufman. ”The movement is simple in concept if not always in execution: Produce less waste. Shun polystyrene foam containers or any other packaging that is not biodegradable. Recycle or compost whatever you can.”
The Zero Waste International Alliance lists dozens of U.S. cities and counties with zero-waste management goals, including communities in California, Texas, Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Ohio, Arizona and Wisconsin. Of course, it is a worldwide movement, with the list also including communities in Canada, South America, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Africa and Asia.
Just last month, Mayor Boris Johnson announced his draft proposal for a zero-waste management plan for London, which has the worst rate in England at just 25 percent. His goal is to eliminate all waste from landfills by 2025. And just a few days ago, the citizens of Key West, Florida, presented to the City Commission their proposal for a zero-waste management plan for a city that currently recycles just 10 percent of its residential waste.
In addition to the traditional recycling of plastics, glass and aluminum, city composting plays a critical role in every community’s zero-waste management plan. After all, it’s estimated that as much as much as 50 percent of our trash is organic waste – 12.45 percent food scraps, 12.8 percent yard trimmings, and 32.66 percent paper products (by weight). That’s 57.96 percent organic waste that composting can help divert from landfills.
For details on adopting a zero-waste management plan for your community or business, see the
Standards outlined by the Zero Waste International Alliance.
Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8078800@N07/634853323/
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