Organic waste sent to landfill does not receive the right conditions to be able to break down and compost properly. Instead, it decomposes and releases methane and carbon dioxide which are huge contributors to climate change.
Up to 50% of the contents of a household’s general waste bin that goes to landfill could be composted. This creates tonnes of extra waste and directly causes greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, food waste in Australian landfills creates the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions as our steel and iron ore industries combined.
The good news!
If food waste is composted instead, it will reduce landfill, decrease greenhouse emissions and do wonders for your garden!
Compost helps to:
- Improve soil quality by releasing rich nutrients into the soil.
- Supress plant diseases and pests, reducing the need for fertilisers.
- Reduce the amount of organic waste going to landfill, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and runoff from landfill which can pollute groundwater and waterways.
- Retain soil moisture, reducing water use in the garden.
For helpful advice on composting at home visit: https://www.wastesorted.wa.gov.au
There are also community composting stations around, where local communities take their food scraps so everyone can benefit.
