Up to 50% of the rubbish Australians put in their everyday mixed-waste garbage bins is organic material such as food waste. This goes to landfill and contributes to greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide as well as producing harmful leachate (liquids).
As well as taking up space in a landfill, organic waste is damaging to the environment when it breaks down inside a landfill, producing toxic leachate and methane gas. Leachate can damage waterways and aquatic life if it reaches local streams. Methane gas can cause dangerous fires within landfills and is also a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
By composting organic material instead of sending it to landfill, we not only improve our environment, but also create a valuable resource that we can use in our gardens.
Better soil, Better life, Better future!
Every school day, lots of food scraps are generated that will often go into the rubbish bin and be sent to landfill. All those food scraps are ideal for composting and can then be used in a school garden. Composting is also a great way to teach kids about recycling - turning a waste product into something valuable.
This is nature’s way of recycling.
Food scraps, garden waste and shredded paper and cardboard can all be composted. Compost bays can be cheaply constructed using timber or there are also plastic compost bins and tumblers available.
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