Feeding Soil, Not Landfills

What Is Compost?

Compost is what happens when food scraps, leaves, and other organic materials break down into rich, dark soil. It’s nature’s recycling system. Instead of throwing food waste into the trash, compost turns it into something valuable. It's alive!

Compost feeds soil. Healthy soil grows strong plants. Strong plants feed people, animals, and pollinators. It’s a full-circle system that works, no chemicals required.

Why Compost Matters

Right now, a lot of food goes to the landfill. In the U.S., food waste makes up more than 20 percent of landfill space. When food breaks down without air (like in a trash bag), it creates methane, a gas that traps heat and harms the climate.

But when food breaks down with oxygen, in the right mix of greens and browns, it becomes compost instead of pollution.

Compost:

• Builds healthy soil full of microbes, fungi, and nutrients

• Helps soil hold water, reducing the need to irrigate

• Cuts down on trash and landfill costs

• Keeps food systems local and natural

What You Can Compost

Greens (wet, high in nitrogen):

• Fruit and veggie scraps

• Coffee grounds and filters

• Grass clippings

• Plant trimmings

Browns (dry, high in carbon):

• Dried leaves

• Shredded paper or cardboard

• Sawdust

• Straw

Do not compost:

• Meat, dairy, or greasy foods (they attract pests)

• Plastic, glass, or anything synthetic

The magic is in the mix. A good compost pile needs both greens and browns to break down properly.

How to Compost at Home

You don’t need a farm or even a big yard. You can start small.

Backyard method:

• Choose a bin, pile, or corner of your yard

• Add greens and browns in layers

• Turn the pile every week or so to add oxygen

• Keep it moist, like a wrung-out sponge

Indoor method:

• Use a countertop bin or a small sealed container

• Take it to a local compost drop-off or community garden

• Some cities offer curbside compost pickup

Worm composting:

• Use red worms to break down scraps in a small bin

• Great for classrooms, porches, or apartments

What Compost Does for Plants

Compost makes soil better than fertilizer ever could. It adds life, not just nutrients. Plants grown in compost-rich soil are often stronger, more pest-resistant, and more nutritious.

Healthy soil holds water longer, reduces erosion, and supports more beneficial insects and fungi.

Compost doesn’t just feed the plant. It feeds the entire underground world the plant depends on.

Kid Activity: Make a Mini Compost Jar

1. Use a clear jar with a lid

2. Add small layers of veggie scraps, shredded paper, and soil

3. Sprinkle with water

4. Loosely cover and leave it in a warm place

5. Watch what happens over the next few weeks. Decomposition is a science experiment!

Take notes on smells, textures, color changes, and temperature. This helps kids observe biology in action.

The Lesson

When we throw food away, we waste more than a meal. We waste the water, energy, and labor it took to grow it. Compost is a solution anyone can use. It’s simple, powerful, and free.

If you care about plants, you have to care about the soil. If you care about the soil, compost is the best gift you can give it. 

Let’s grow a future together.

Adapt Your Table