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Food & Yard Waste - Apartment Residents
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Composting Benefits
Composting Benefits
Composting reduces garbage and helps avoid the need for new landfills. Food waste makes up one-third of the residential garbage in Seattle, or nearly 45,000 tons! Food waste takes up space and produces methane, a greenhouse gas that causes climate change.
Compost builds healthy soil for plants and gardens, which is great for plants and also for fish. Compost-rich soil absorbs run-off and breaks down urban pollutants like oil, grease, metals, fertilizers, and pesticides so they don’t contaminate waterways.
What about in-sink garbage disposals?
Compared to composting, garbage disposals waste fresh water and energy. It is similar to flushing a toilet a few times every time you turn on the unit. Garbage disposals also send food waste to the sewer, which cause a higher level of nutrients and solids at the treatment plant. The treatment plant must use more water and energy to clean the water of the nutrients and solids before discharge to the Puget Sound.
Some cities have banned garbage disposals because food waste contains grease that causes expensive sewer clogs and overflows. Your building’s maintenance staff will also appreciate less stress on the plumbing!
How compost is made
Yard waste and food waste is processed into compost and sold at your local home and garden stores. Learn how compost is made.
Related Links
Fats, Oils, and Grease and Drains
Salmon Friendly Gardening
Reduce, Reuse, Exchange - for ways to keep other useful items out of the waste stream
Links to other sites
Climate Action Now
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