Composting: Residential vs Business Sustainability

 

 

You might be thinking, composting is composting. Does it really matter where it comes from? The answer is absolutely. Composting is a wonderful and effective way to recycle refuse such as coffee grounds, orange peels, rotten food, and other biodegradable material. More and more people and businesses are speaking of composting and recycling, seeking to diminish their footprint and transition to a more sustainable way of living. What many people aren’t aware of, though, is that there are very different guidelines for composting depending on where the waste is coming from.

 

Though compost is seen as a gross and often dirty way to recycle, the way it’s processed is actually very clean and environmental. When compost is taken from a residential home, it is transported to a large facility and added to what is essentially a larger-scale version of a compost bin. When compost is taken from a business location, however, it is taken to an entirely different facility. This facility houses what is known as an anaerobic digester, which blends compost up to a liquid that is then broken down by bacteria, creating methane that is burned to create electricity.

 

Now, while items such as paper towels and pizza boxes are helpful for compost, adding fiber and other minerals to make compost nutrient-rich, not all paper items are created equal. Many items are waxed or labeled as compostable but actually won’t break down. Because the compost is directed to two separate facilities, it’s important to recognize what should be recycled and composted depending on where you are recycling from.

 

You can find business composting guidelines here, and residential composting guidelines here.