Most landfills produce huge amounts of methane. Garbage produces methane gas when it decays in an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment. Most landfills crush garbage and place it into a plastic-lined pit, then layer the trash with dirt and more garbage.
You can help prevent landfill methane production by composting as much as possible. Just about anything organic is compostable - potato peelings, coffee grounds, unsalted pasta water, moldy baked goods, etc. Avoid large items like whole potatoes and corncobs. You should chop them into smaller pieces before adding them to your compost bin. Avoid meat, oily or fatty substances, or anything prepared with appreciable amounts of salt.
Add finished compost to your houseplants and garden, or use it for lawn top-dressing to create lusciously healthy growth. You can purchase a commercial compost bin at your local department, hardware, or garden supply store. Alternatively, search the Internet for 'plans compost bin construction' if you would like to try building a bin from scratch.
You can add many unusual items to your compost:
100% cotton clothing (no buttons or zippers) 100% wool sweaters or socks brown paper bags burnt toast, cakes, potatoes corked or soured wine crushed eggshells dryer lint feathers and fur hair clippings junk mail (no plastic or metal) leather goods (metal and plastic pieces removed) pasta, cooked or uncooked (without the sauce) shells from almonds, peanuts, and walnuts shredded paper small pieces of cardboard small quantities of expired dairy products tea bags and coffee filters toenail and fingernail clippings vacuum cleaner bags and contents wooden skewers (broken into small pieces) wooden toothpicks
You can locate a more comprehensive list if you search the Net for 'things to add to compost'.
These tips are just a start. Keep watching for further informational articles in the days to come.
(c) Copyright Kathy Steinemann:
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