Denver is at the bottom of the totem pole, with a 20 percent recycling rate in comparison to the national average of 34 percent. Is there a way for Denver to achieve sustainability in composting?
A report by Eco-Cycle states that Denver is missing huge opportunities to achieve sustainability in recycling and composting. Denver's recycling rate is 14 percent behind the national average and is more than halfway behind cities like Salt Lake City, Utah and Austin, Texas, both of which are recycling 40 percent or more. In fact, Denver residents are sending more than 190,000 tons of trash to landfills every year – that's enough garbage to fill a train all the way from Denver to Fort Collins, measuring out to be over 70 miles long. [caption id="attachment_16359" align="aligncenter" width="625"]
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The city's lack of composting plays a large part in why it has the worst recycling rates in the country. And the current system Denver has in place, which is sending compostable materials to the landfill, is creating a "toxic soup that threatens to pollute our groundwater."
According to Eco-Cycle, organic materials make up 57.2 percent of Denver's trash, which adds up to nearly 500 pounds per person! The rest of the trash consists of hazardous waste (7.4), residue (6.1), glass (2.3), metal (2.7), plastics (9.8), and paper (14.4).
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In comparison, 900,000 residents in New York City have already started composting, and by the end of 2018, the city is hoping to grow that number to 3.3 million.
Eco-Cycle really begs the question of: why? Why continue to live in this pattern?
Composting is a reasonable and easily sustainable option to counter Denver's pattern. There are many added benefits to composting:
Reduces Waste and Climate Pollution
Since there is no oxygen in a landfill once it has been covered, materials such as food scraps, cardboard boxes, and yard debris decompose anaerobically (without oxygen). This entire process creates methane. In contrast, composting breaks down those materials with oxygen and water and, most importantly, it doesn't produce methane. Methane is a Short-Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP), and while it is short-lived, it has a huge impact on our climate. Methane lasts in our atmosphere for 12 years, and it "traps 84 percent more heat in our atmosphere than carbon dioxide in the short term." Since Denver has more than 190,000 tons of trash in landfills every year, composting would be able to reduce that number to less than 80,000 tons of trash each year. Denver residents should be able to compost their food scraps and yard debris. Not only would this would create a new pattern and system that helps reduce waste, but it would also help build healthy soil for the growth of nutritious local food. However, most residential areas do not offer composting as a recycling option in Denver and the surrounding metro areas. Eco-Cycle is asking residents to join their action network and sign their letter to Mayor Hancock, asking him to make recycling and composting a priority across the Denver metro area. Many residents want to compost because it reduces their trash, reduces climate pollution, and because it's a simple and easy thing to do to keep our environment happy and healthy. Eco-Cycle took city surveys, and many residents believe that composting is the right thing to do, and more than 88 percent of residents want recycling to become more of a norm.Aids in Soil and Water Conservation
There's a difference between dirt and healthy soil. Dirt doesn't help with the growth of nearly all the plants and food we as humans need to survive. That's why topsoil is so crucial, especially since one-third of the world's soil has eroded and degraded over the last 40 years. In fact, 28 percent of the United States' cropland is losing soil faster than it can regenerate. Compost can help improve our dirt by strengthening its structure, the building of organic matter, giving soil its life, and reducing the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. According to Denver Water, for each pound of compost you mix into 100 pounds of soil, the soil can hold four gallons of water. Not only does this help grow healthier plants, it makes water more available to their roots during the hot and dry days that Colorado is known to get.Grows Healthy and Organic Foods
In order to have healthy and organic foods grown in our communities, Eco-Cycle wants Denver to invest in building "healthy, productive soils that support local agriculture -- everything from backyard gardens to industrial crops." Composting recycles nutrients from plants and places them back into the soil for future plants and crops. Ultimately, this creates a loop or a cycle within the agricultural business.Has Tons of Economic Benefits
A $3 billion industry nationwide, composting could create over 70 new jobs across Denver, with $1.1 million in employee wages every year. There could be jobs such as truck drivers, equipment operators, landscapers, construction crews, product and market development, and many others available, which will aid in the environment and the economic markets. If you do live in an area that offers composting, take a look at some tips from Eco-Cycle on how you can make composting easy.Composting Tips
Have the proper indoor container to collect kitchen scraps Eco-Cycle recommends a steel or ceramic container that has a tight-fitting lid, which will reduce the chances of the unpleasant odor stinking up your home and will keep pests from hanging around the container. You can also use a reusable plastic bucket. Minimizing flies and pests from outdoor bin If you're struggling with flies and pests hanging around your outdoor compost bin, try to:- Layer your food scraps and yard debris to absorb odors and moisture.
- Leave your bin in a cool garage or at least out of the sun.
- Seal the bin; use a cinder block or another heavy object to keep animals out, or use a bungee cord across the top.
- Keep your bin clean and rinse it as often as you can.
- Emptying your indoor compost bin daily (or every other day).
- Lining your bin with shredded paper, newspaper, or a paper towel at the bottom to absorb any moisture. You can use a compostable plastic bag to line the bin.
- Wrapping meat or fish scraps in newspaper or in their original butcher paper. Wrapping vegetable scraps in newspaper or paper towels.
- Rinsing off any visible mold after emptying. Cleaning the bin with dish soap at least once a week, or even sprinkling some baking soda in the container to absorb odors.
- Refrigerating (or freezing) food scraps until your collection day.
- Rubbing vinegar on the rim of the bin to protect it against fruit flies.
