Why Compost?

Trash is an unsavory thing we want to forget and throw away. However, that waste doesn’t just disappear - it goes to landfills and incinerators that harm both the planet and us. Landfills are dangerous, as the waste in our trash contains hazardous chemicals that break down and contaminate water supplies. The gasses surrounding landfills are so harmful they have been “link[ed] to birth defects and other serious health conditions” (Community Action Works).
   Landfills aren’t just detrimental to humans. They also are a major contributor to climate change (EPA). Landfills in the US are responsible for one third of all methane emissions. Although methane is 25% more harmful than CO2, many people focus on carbon emissions. As a result of their methane emissions, landfills are warming our planet. Landfills also force animals out of their natural habitat when they are formed, harming biodiversity. 
   In addition, Massachusetts has run out of most of its space for trash. A huge portion of the waste from Massachusetts is going out of state as far as Ohio (Road Runner). Eventually, there will be nowhere for the trash to go except back into Massachusetts. Landfills will defile biodiversity in Massachusetts as more and more landfills destroy rich ecosystems forever.
For these reasons, we need to reduce our trash. But how? The key is reducing food waste, which accounts for over a fourth of our trash, through composting. It creates an effective and continuous system of reuse, as it helps enormously with crop production by improving soil conditions. Crops use so much water that can be saved by using compost, as it retains more water. Composting also can assist in managing storm water, preventing flooding, and reclaiming wetlands (Composting council). With these benefits, composting is economically better than waste management alternatives like incineration and landfills. Landfills sap money from the state because of shipping costs and land usage, which makes composting an obvious solution.

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View the Works Cited