Learn to Compost at Home

Zero waste is the designation for 2014 and the Fairview Park Green Team is working to help its community and neighbors pursue that goal. Recycling rates are up in Fairview Park, but other opportunities exist to further divert solid waste from landfills. One such tactic: composting food waste at home.

Composting is nature’s method of converting food waste into something usable, namely a valuable, nutrient-rich soil supplement. Food scraps are the single largest source of waste, despite being largely recyclable. The environmental benefits of composting are easily recognized, the least of which is reducing the amount of material ending up in landfills.

What are less recognizable are the benefits of composting to individuals. Home composting produces fast-growing, vibrant plants at little cost of time or equipment. Furthermore, home composting reduces water consumption and the need for store bought plant growth additives. Despite the benefits, a large majority of Americans do not compost their food waste. The Green Team is hoping to change that trend in Fairview Park.

The Green Team is hosting a seminar to provide residents with the knowledge and tools on how to compost at home. The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management District will conduct the seminar, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, at the Gemini Center.

Attendees will be educated on how to start composting and how to do so properly. Improper management of food scraps can cause odors and attract unwanted attention from insects and animals, which are important considerations when living in a neighborhood. In fact, ensuring your composting activities are not a nuisance to neighbors is required by law in Fairview Park.

If you would like to attend the composting seminar, register at www.cuyahogaswd.org. The Fairview Park Green Team is a volunteer group of residents dedicated to facilitating sustainability and reducing environmental impacts in Fairview Park. Find them online at www.fairviewpark.org/green-team.  

Matthew Hrubey

Matthew Hrubey is an employee of the City of Fairview Park and serves as Mayor Eileen Ann Patton’s liaison to the Green Team.

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Volume 1, Issue 10, Posted 5:32 PM, 04.02.2014