Why You Should Consider Composting

by Ann Hayward 01/23/2022

It may tempt you to toss those potato peels in the kitchen trashcan, but resist the urge. Not only will they make your trash smell terrible but they'll attract critters once the bag goes outside. By putting your vegetable scraps and coffee grounds back into the earth, you're helping to prevent trash from going into your local landfill. By composting, you can be a part of the solution and reap tons of rewarding benefits in return.

You'll Generate Less Trash for Pickup

If you set out multiple bags of trash each garbage day, a small composting bin that sets on your kitchen counter could be a solution. It may surprise you to learn how much organic waste you toss into the trash every day. In California alone, food and yard scraps once made up roughly one-third of the household trash that ended up in landfills. That's millions of pounds of lawn clippings and onion skins that could easily have been recycled. Many food scraps are suitable for compost, including:

Nutshells
Coffee grounds
Fruit and vegetable peels
Eggshells
Tea bags

California took action to lessen the amount of organic waste going to landfills in 2016, and other states across the country are taking notice. Keeping food scraps out of the trash is the right thing to do for the planet, and it's a healthy choice for families who grow their own food, as well.

You Won't Have to Buy Soil Conditioners

Even in urban areas, poor soil is not a problem for homeowners who compost. But before you decide whether composting is right for you, it's good to understand how the whole process works.

When you toss organic waste such as banana peels or watermelon rinds into a trash bag, they eventually rot, turn slimy and emit odor. However, if you compost them the decay process speeds up. Your cast-off food becomes a fresh meal for millions of tiny micro-organisms who break down the waste and change its composition. In a compost pile, food scraps decompose just as they would in nature, but they do so at an accelerated rate. As a result, you're left with a rich, brown soil that's perfect for planting.

Your Gardens Will Flourish

Possibly the biggest benefit to composting is the beautiful gardens and houseplants it supports. Imagine your beautiful new home trimmed with window boxes that trail colorful vines of vinca, fuchsia or lobelia. Plants flourish without the use of harsh chemicals and fertilizers that damage soil and endanger the water table.

Organic compost acts as a natural fertilizer without introducing toxins into the ground. Use your compost, indoors or out, in vegetable gardens and driveway borders. It will boost the growth of herbs in your windowsill pots and will keep your ferns happy and content.

Food scraps tossed in your trash make your kitchen smell unpleasant. If you keep a small composting bucket with a charcoal filter on your countertop, odors are easily contained. When the bin is full, simply take it outside and add it to your compost pile for rich, beautiful soil that's ready when you need it.

About the Author

Ann Hayward

Born in Philadelphia and raised in the suburbs, Ann Hayward got her Pennsylvania real estate license at age 18 even before going to college. This second-generation real estate professional followed in the footsteps of her father and two uncles, inheriting their passion for the business. Licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia, Ann is accomplished in her career, with numerous designations including SFR, SRES, PSA, WHC, and multiunit Housing Development Finance Professional (HDFP) from the National Development Council. She specializes in Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties, Northern Virginia and Washington, DC, all jurisdictions where Ann has lived and knows very well. In addition to her professional expertise, she owns and manages personal investment property, understands and has been involved in the renovation/remodeling process, and has great resources which she shares with clients. When you hire Ann to represent you, she will make your buying or selling experience an enjoyable, rewarding one. Her compassion, sensitivity to her clients’ needs, eye for detail, and ability to see the big picture when guiding you through a purchase or sale are unique assets that will ensure your success. A diverse and relevant background also gives Ann a distinct edge. For 30 years, she worked in fast-paced, high-pressure television and theatrical production, attaining the highest achievement – DGA membership as a Director, and as an award-winning staff and freelance writer. Her keen audio visual skills and design sense benefit sellers in marketing their properties, and are invaluable in helping buyers see the potential of space. A true renaissance woman, Ann was also an income tax professional and office manager for H&R Block, so she thoroughly understands the tax and financial implications of acquiring and selling real estate. Her superior organizational skills are further evidenced as owner of a downsizing/professional organizing business, Managed For You, which allows her to connect with everyone from millennials to boomers and seniors, whether for small space planning or assisting with major decluttering and transitioning. Ann holds an AB in American History from Simmons College, Boston, plus attended Robert Wagner Graduate School of Public Administration where she was a candidate for Doctorate. She additionally studied Film Direction at the American Film Institute in LA, and was a Stanford University post-graduate Professional Journalism Fellow. Personally, Ann is an avid if not very good golfer, and the co-founder of a nonprofit 501c3 organization offering educational guidance, tutoring and counseling for youngsters from elementary school through college admission. She sits on the board of trustees of a nonprofit educational film production corporation as well. (202) 494-6252 [email protected]