company news about Why is Composting So Important?

WHY SHOULD BUSINESSES COMPOST ON-SITE?

Organizations across the globe are continually searching for ways to make their business models more sustainable, improve their carbon footprint and demonstrate their genuine commitment to looking after our planet.

The on-site composting of food waste can help companies with all the above – allowing them to reap ethical, environmental, resource, and financial benefits, all at the same time.

The fact that there are over 1.3 billion tonnes of food waste generated globally each year is alarming, but if more businesses took the plunge to tackle their food waste more sustainably, this figure would drop significantly.

Composting at source has massive environmental benefits over anaerobic digestion too, as there is less transportation of waste involved – reducing business costs and carbon emissions.

In truth, on-site commercial composting can – and should – play a huge part in a company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF COMPOSTING?

– It helps to divert tonnes of food waste away from landfills.

– It turns food waste into a valuable resource.

– It enables companies to close the waste management loop.

– It saves thousands of pounds in off-site disposal costs.

– It reduces global greenhouse gases.

– It decreases pollution levels – fewer trucks on the road means cleaner air.

– It creates a nutrient-rich resource that can be used in growing projects.

– It generates jobs – especially in city-wide food waste collection projects.

– It improves the structure and quality of the soil – promoting healthy plants and producing growth.

– It makes the produce we grow more nutritious – meaning healthier, happier human beings!

– It omits the need to use more synthetic, chemical fertilizers.

– It eliminates our reliance upon using peat-based composts, which are damaging to the environment and peatland ecosystems.

WHY PUT COMPOST BACK IN THE GROUND?

It supports soil health, helping to reverse the effects of climate change.

RESTORING SOIL HEALTH

One of the great things about compost, also known as ‘black gold, is that it boosts soil’s organic matter, improving soil quality by reducing erosion and strengthening the structure. It acts as an overall nutrient provider replenishing lifeless soil with a fertile equivalent.

INCREASING WATER CAPACITY

By adding compost to the soil, can drastically boost the soil’s ability to hold water, meaning that plants and products have a healthier environment in which to grow. Also, compost omits the need to use synthetic fertilizers which can contain harmful chemicals, helping to protect our natural environment.

MAKING COMMERCIAL SENSE

By composting on-site, organizations save money by removing the need for off-site disposal, but they can greatly reduce transport-related carbon emissions too. This activity also moves them further up the waste hierarchy into ‘prevention of waste’, and demonstrates their commitment to sustainability.

IMPROVING AIR QUALITY

It also helps to purify the air that we breathe. Nutrient-rich compost is a vital component in the carbon sequestration process, removing CO_² from our atmosphere and storing it in the ground, helping to rebalance our atmosphere and undo the effects of climate change.