Zero Is Possible

This is the idea we explored in our last Chippewa Valley Family article. Many families strive to follow a healthy lifestyle, which includes purchasing healthy foods. What we do with our food waste can make a significant impact along our zero waste journey and is the focus of our next zero waste installment.

Your home can generate 26 or more pounds of food waste each week. Instead of sending this valuable material to the landfill, readers should consider composting at home or by using a curbside pick-up service. Both are great options for reducing your waste and avoiding those bags of soil by creating compost! 

Composting is simple: You’re just speeding up the work of mother nature! Now, let’s get to it!

Backyard Composting

To get started, decide on your composting structure by estimating the amount of waste you generate. Make sure you add the proper amounts of green waste (fruits and veggies) to brown waste (leaves, wood chips) and that you’re turning and watering the pile periodically. Easy-to-use online compost calculators are available for those who wish to perfect their compost recipe!

Vermicomposting (aka Worm Composting)

In this process the worms eat and process the food waste, expelling worm castings, which is a similar product to compost. The key to success is proper moisture to ensure the environment isn’t too moist for the worms. Just as seen on a rainy day, worms do not enjoy a soggy living space!

There are numerous online resources to perfect backyard and vermicomposting methods. We know you can do it! Should you find these options aren’t for you, but you still desire to keep your food waste from the landfill, check out commercial composting facilities, which can process many types compostable waste (meat, dairy, fats, paper, leaves/brush).