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Pros & Cons of Composting
Pros & Cons of Composting. Households often limit recycling to items like aluminum cans, paper and glass, but a large amount of organic waste can potentially be recycled through composting instead of sending it to a landfill. Composting is done by mixing organic waste materials life food waste with bulking agents like wood chips to facilitate a...
Households often limit recycling to items like aluminum cans, paper and glass, but a large amount of organic waste can potentially be recycled through composting instead of sending it to a landfill. Composting is done by mixing organic waste materials life food waste with bulking agents like wood chips to facilitate a breakdown of the organic materials. There are several possible advantages and disadvantages to composting.
Environmentally Friendly
Composting is considered an environmentally friendly way to get rid of organic wastes for several reasons. Composting diverts away from landfills the organic materials, thereby reducing the production of methane and other pollutants. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), "as yard wastes decompose in landfills, they generate methane gas and acidic leachate." Methane gas can explode if concentrations are too high. The EPA also states that compost can help enrich your land by introducing beneficial microorganisms into the soil that can, in turn, reduce the need for fertilizers. Compost can also help absorb contaminants in soil such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Economic Benefits
Composting can provide several economic benefits. According to the EPA, compost serves as a marketable commodity and can reduce the need for water, fertilizers and pesticides. By composting, you will not need to buy as many trash bags to dispose of trash. This reduces costs for you and reduces the amount of waste material sent to landfills. Since composting cuts down on the amount of trash people send to landfills, it reduces costs associated with transporting the trash and running the landfills. Reducing the stress on landfills can also serve to prevent their expansion.
Work
A potential disadvantage of composting is that requires extra work and effort beyond normal trash disposal. Instead of simply tossing organic materials in the trash, you must remember to save them and later bring them to your compost site. You also have to educate yourself about how to compost and which materials you should and shouldn't compost, which takes time and effort.
Land Use
Another disadvantage of composting is that it requires that you set aside space for a compost pile or bin. If you do not have much room in your yard, it may not be possible to locate your compost in a place that is out of sight; some may consider compost sites aesthetically displeasing. Sharing a compost site with several neighbors may help alleviate this issue. Compost piles or bins may also create a disagreeable smell.
