The natural process of the decomposition of organic material into a soil amendment is known as composting. In other words, composting is nature's way of recycling organic materials. Plant and food waste become nutrient rich soil for feeding future plant growth.
According to a 2018 study of North Texas waste habits, organic materials make up aproximately 44% of the waste sent to the landfill. Yard trimmings, food scraps, clean wood material, and other easily composted materials can be saved from an eternity in the landfill and converted to compost either individually in your backyard or at a centralized facility.
Composting reduces the amount of yard and kitchen waste going to the landfill. Imagine if we were able to take a huge chunk out of that 44% of waste going to the landfill and use it to make our lawns and gardens greener!
Composting, and then using that compost, is also good for the environment because it is a natural alternative to commercial fertilizers containing chemicals that we usually apply to our lawns and gardens. These chemicals often wash off our lawns and pollute our waterways, so using less chemicals on your lawn saves money and the environment.
Compost is rich in nutrients that plants need to grow and thrive, but it also acts like a sponge and holds on to water. By amending, or mixing compost into your soil, you increase the amount of water your soil can hold. This reduces the need for supplemental watering (saving you money) and also keeps your soil and surrounding area cool in those hot Texas summer months (saving you more money).
Below are various composting methods listed in order of simple to complex, click an image to learn more about that specific method of composting.
