Category: COMPOSTING_MN

Tons of leftover food sits piled up in Brooklyn, New York, before being processed into “bio-slurry” that is turned into methane gas used for power. New York is one of eight states that have enacted laws to cut down on food in landfills, where it breaks down into methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and is released into the atmosphere.

The terms “biodegradable” and “compostable” are everywhere, but they’re often used interchangeably, incorrectly, or misleadingly – adding a layer of uncertainty for anyone trying to shop sustainably. In order to make truly planet-friendly choices, it’s important to understand what biodegradable and compostable mean, what they don’t mean, and how they differ.

Composting for my western neighbor involves putting the fallen fall leaves into a big pile near the back of the garage. Twigs and branches get added as they are collected from the landscape. Whenever the lawn gets cut, which can be every couple of weeks to every couple of months depending on when they come out, the cuttings simply get piled on.

The terms “biodegradable” and “compostable” are everywhere, but they’re often used interchangeably, incorrectly, or misleadingly – adding a layer of uncertainty for anyone trying to shop sustainably.

The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) temporarily suspended its collection of curbside composting on May 4. Although the program is set to resume on June 30, 2021, many city residents and elected officials have spoken out against the 14-month blackout, concerned that it will impede the city’s progress in reducing waste and set back efforts to combat climate change. Some worry the disruption could also disproportionately impact marginalized communities.

At the end of 2019, BioCycle editors contacted national and regional composting stakeholders to ask about the 2 most important trends that influenced the composting industry in their region, or nationwide, in 2019 — and if they see those trends continuing in 2020.

A team of environmental science consultants told the East Hampton Town Board on Tuesday that groundwater contamination beneath the now-capped Springs-Fireplace Road landfill is slowly diminishing, as expected. However, as the board noted, ongoing testing of private wells across a wide swath of the industrial corridor surrounding the old landfill demonstrate elevated levels of manganese and nitrates.

We extensively cover electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels here at team CleanTechnica – these high-tech renewable technologies are moving us to a world beyond fossil fuels. This truly can’t come fast enough. And yet, there are some decidedly low-tech opportunities that can make a big difference for climate change, like compost and reducing food waste.

When I started growing my own vegetables, I knew that I wanted to use organic gardening methods. And the best way to fertilise is to make your own compost. This has the added benefit of reducing kitchen waste as it is recycled back into the garden.

…according to environmental experts.