This year’s winter heat, Midwest wildfires, tornadoes, and record-breaking snowfall in the East show that something is happening to our planet. Each of us can play a role, however small, to help restore the balance of the climate and environment.
Small, simple changes can make a big difference. Organic waste (including food waste) in our landfills is the third-largest source of methane gas that ends up in our atmosphere. Methane is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide, according to CalRecycle. If we can keep organic waste out of landfills, atmospheric methane levels will drop significantly. For this to come about, it requires the participation of residents, businesses, cities and waste haulers.
The public has green waste recycling down fairly well. We all know grass clippings, leaves, tree trimmings and other organic waste go into our green disposal barrels. Last year, our green waste recycling company, Agromin, recycled 1.25 million tons of green waste. We still receive a fair amount of non-organic items (metals, plastics, even baby diapers) that must be removed by hand when they are brought to our recycling facilities, but, in general, the public understands which green materials need to be recycled.
Food waste recycling needs to follow the same path, but many residents are still unclear about how to do so. Some waste haulers require that food waste be put in a bag (plastic or paper) inside your green recycling container. Others say it is OK to mix food waste with your green waste. How to dispose of your food waste properly is up to your waste hauler. Each has a different method, so check with your hauler to find out what it prefers. Is it worth the effort? The answer is yes.
Because it decays so rapidly, the EPA estimates that food waste accounts for 58% of all methane emissions from landfills — more than any other landfilled material.
Organic recyclers are scrambling to keep up with the growing demand for food waste recycling facilities. Our company opened one in Oxnard last year. More need to be built, but to justify the costs, the sites require more volume. Residents need to get into the habit of recycling food waste, just as they did with green waste. Grocery stores and restaurants are big producers of food waste. They are now required by law to recycle their food waste or, if still fresh, to donate the products to nonprofits for distribution to those in need.
Fortunately, many cities in the tri-county area are offering incentives to residents and businesses that encourage organic and food waste recycling. SB 1383 requires cities to divert 75% of organic waste generated in their jurisdictions from landfills each year. They must then turn the organic materials into usable products such as compost, mulch, and biofuel.
Where does all that product go? It’s distributed onto farms, on city and county landscapes and on rangelands. That still leaves tons of compost, mulch and biofuel that need to be distributed.
Many cities in Ventura County have developed programs that give away organic compost and mulch to residents. Residents (and in some cases, businesses) can order and pick up compost and mulch in bulk or in bags at no cost. The cities track how much is given away. The amounts are reported to the state to demonstrate compliance with SB 1383 diversion requirements.
With planting season in full swing, now is the time to take advantage of these programs. Contact your city to learn about its giveaway program. Many also have free compost and mulch at community gardens for pickup.
It’s never been so easy to do your part in creating a healthier environment. By using compost and mulch from organic waste, you are putting nutrients back into the soil that would have ended up in a landfill. From green waste to gardens, the materials come full circle.
Bill Camarillo is the CEO of Agromin. Headquartered in Oxnard, Agromin is California’s largest organics recycler.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Reharvesting organic waste benefits the planet | Your Turn
Reporting by Bill Camarillo, Your Turn / Ventura County Star
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