Food Waste Composting: Institutional and Industrial Application by Clean Earth Action
We have been planning to organized our Clean Earth Action (CEA) first step by introducing and starting compost farming. The compost farming recycles organic materials and reduces waste, replenishes depleted soils, and improves soil health. Though it takes different forms, composting can be done in nearly any environment. In an age of profligate food production and consumption, composting offers a solution for recouping some benefit from massive food waste.
Clean Earth Action (CEA) Midland High School team has taken their active action today to installation a compost farming project where all the general waste turns to compost which will be used for the organic vegetable gardening in the schoolyard.
Clean Earth Action (CEA) private compost facility will be around the country which is also pioneering new composting strategies in Tanzania.
Here I would like to address some of the benefits of Compost to the Environment and Agriculture.
Environment
Water and soil conservation. Protects groundwater quality. Minimizes odors from agricultural areas. Avoids methane production and leachate formation in landfills by diverting organics from landfills into compost. Prevents erosion and turf loss on roadsides, hillsides, playing fields, and golf courses. Drastically reduces the need for pesticides and fertilizers. Binds heavy metals and prevents them from migrating to water resources, being absorbed by plants, or being bioavailable to humans. Off-farm materials can be brought in and added to manure to make compost. Facilitates reforestation, wetlands restoration, and wildlife habitat revitalization efforts by amending contaminated, compacted, and marginal soils. Off-farm materials can be brought in and added to manure to make compost. Composted manure weights about one-fourth as much as raw manure per ton.
Agriculture
Long-term stable organic matter source. Buffers soil pH levels. Adds organic matter, humus, and cation exchange capacity to regenerate poor soils. Suppresses certain plant diseases and parasites and kills weed seeds. Increases yield and size in some crops. Increases length and concentration of roots in some crops. Increases soil nutrient content and water holding capacity of sandy soils and water infiltration of clay soils. Reduces fertilizer requirements. Restores soil structure after natural soil microorganisms have been reduced by the use of chemical
fertilizers; compost is a soil inoculant. Increases earthworm populations in soil. Provides slow, gradual release of nutrients, reducing loss from contaminated soils. Reduces water requirements and irrigation. Provides an opportunity for extra income; high-quality compost can be sold at a premium price in established markets. Moves manure to non-traditional markets that do not exist for raw manure. Brings higher prices for organically grown crops.
Minimizes odors from agricultural areas. Source: EPA: Compost - New Applications for an Age-Old Technology
What Are the Benefits to the Food Industry?
Reduces solid waste disposal fees. Ends wasting large quantities of recyclable raw ingredients. Educates consumers on the benefits of food waste composting. Markets your establishment as environmentally conscious. Markets your establishment as one that assists local farmers and the community. Helps close the food waste loop by returning it back to agriculture. Reduces the need for more landfill space.