Food scraps account for a third of the residential trash generated in New York City, more than paper or plastic. Eliminating this waste from the city's trash could save the city approximately $100 million in waste removal costs, according to Ron Gonen, the Deputy Sanitation Commissioner for Recycling and Sustainability.
Beyond economics, when organic waste is sent to the landfill, it creates harmful greenhouse gas (methane), which damages the earth’s atmosphere. When waste is composted above ground at home, oxygen helps the waste to decompose aerobically, and virtually zero methane is produced. It’s also a natural fertilizer. It’s not only good for the planet, but also your garden. The natural solution, then is to compost your organic waste.
This can be done at home, or for those of us without access to a garden or green space, compost can be dropped off at one of the many drop-off sites located throughout the city.
Leave a comment