Waste Not, Grow More: Honoring Composting During National Compost Awareness Month

Yes, this article is about the invaluable treasure hidden in the waste generated by humans and nature—compost, nature's gold.

What Is Compost?

You may have heard of compost, but not know what it is or how it works. So, let's break it down real quick.

Compost is a biologically stable soil amendment that helps build soil health and provides nutrients to plants. During the composting process, microorganisms feed on the materials added to the compost pile. They use carbon and nitrogen to grow and reproduce, water to digest materials, and oxygen to breathe.

Composting is a managed, aerobic (oxygen-required) biological decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms. These organic (carbon-based) materials include grass clippings, leaves, yard and tree trimmings, food scraps, crop residues, animal manure, and biosolids.

Anything nature-made—from apples to humans—returns to nature through a natural degradation or decaying process called composting. This is nature’s timeless tool for a circular economy. Humans now use this natural process to help protect the Earth.

Composting and Greenhouse Gases

Compost not only serves as a healthy soil amendment to grow healthy food, but also contributes to cleaner air and water.

Ask yourself: Do we all deserve clean air and water, or air filled with greenhouse gas emissions and water contaminated with PFAS or PFOAs?

Composting helps address these challenges by diverting organic waste from landfills, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, compost improves soil structure, enhances water-holding capacity, promotes infiltration, and helps filter pollutants before they reach water sources.

The Waste Crisis in the United States and Indiana

The United States produces more waste than any other nation—an estimated 4.4 pounds (2.0 kg) of municipal solid waste per person per day. Approximately 55% of this waste originates from residential sources, while the remaining 45% comes from manufacturing, retailing, and commercial trade. Much of this waste ends up in landfills (Reference 1).

In Indiana, each resident contributes about 60.4 tons of waste to landfills, which is 52.2% above the national average. While the state has made strides—recycling 1.1 million tons out of 6.6 million tons of MSW disposed of—much of the trash still ends up in landfills (Reference 2).

Indiana’s Composting Progress

Yard waste has been banned from Indiana's landfills since 1994, and the open burning of leaves and other yard waste is restricted. Alongside yard waste like grass clippings, leaves, and wood chips, food scrap waste also significantly contributes to landfill emissions (Reference 3).

However, Indiana is taking action through various initiatives to reduce landfill emissions. Some of these initiatives include expanding recycling, diverting organic and food waste, and increasing composting efforts.

In fact, Indiana has a strong composting infrastructure, with a mix of commercial and home composting operations. The state is pushing for greater diversion of organic waste, especially food scraps, and supports local yard waste programs (Reference 4).

If you're thinking about composting, know that sorting waste for composting is simple. There are two main streams: backyard composting and commercial-scale composting. Any uneaten food can be composted, as long as the correct ratio of greens (nitrogen) and browns (carbon) is maintained.

Many people ask: Can I compost hair, tomato seeds, meat, dairy, or recalled food?

Yes, the simple answer is that all of these can be composted, provided the correct process is followed.

For example, recalled cucumbers contaminated with salmonella can be composted in a commercial composting facility, where high temperatures kill harmful pathogens and support the growth of beneficial microbes. Meat can also be composted at commercial facilities, but should not be composted in backyard setups. Human composting is legal in a few states and is a growing movement.

So, whether you're interested in getting involved with this on a larger scale or within your backyard, there's no super complex process to composting. With proper infrastructure and education, composting can be a powerful solution for a healthier planet.

Wood Waste and Composting in 2023

In 2023, 524,157 tons of organic material were recycled, primarily as mulch, animal bedding, and compost. Specifically, Indiana has 115 registered composting and wood grinding facilities.

Despite this progress, gaps still exist. IDEM and the state are promoting organic diversion through grants and funding, but more action and public involvement are needed (Reference 5).

Circular Indiana’s Impact

Circular Indiana (CI) is focused on educating communities about composting and spreading awareness about reducing landfill emissions. Since 2024, CI has partnered with Greensburg—supported by a Honda Foundation grant—to promote composting in local schools, at the Honda plant, and through future community projects.

Metrics matter. Without measurement, we can’t track impact. When a zero-waste school lunch program was implemented, over 30 lbs of food waste were diverted from landfills, equivalent to the emissions saved from driving a car 114 miles. Every small action makes a difference.

How Communities Can Get Involved

Community engagement is essential. A sustainable lifestyle does not mean giving up comfort.  Here's how to start:

• Participate in and support composting and zero-waste events.

  
  
  
  

• Try a zero-waste day or week at home.

  
  
  
  

• Use more reusables and properly sort trash into recyclables, compostables, and landfill.

  
  
  
  

• Compost at home or join a local program.

  
  
  
  

• Advocate for a better waste management system by talking to your county, municipality, and elected officials.

  
  
  
  

Compost is a natural fertilizer you can make at home. Today’s topsoil lacks the microbes and organisms essential for healthy food production. By combining traditional farming wisdom with modern technology, we can restore our soil and our planet.

Let’s give future generations a safe, clean world. It all starts with one simple, natural act of composting. Together, we can cultivate healthy soil, a healthier environment, and a well-maintained planet.

References: 

(Ref 1)

(Ref 2)

(Ref 3)

 (Ref 4)

 (Ref 5)