Composting is nature’s method of recycling our food waste into nutrients for plants. Installing a
compost bin in your home has many benefits for your household and the Earth.
Reduce household waste
Around 35% of our household rubbish is organic waste. In our throw-away culture today, so much
waste is left to rot in the landfill site or incinerated and this is a shocking waste of green resources.
When we throw away food waste, it is left to decompose in a landfill site, and, in the process,
methane gas (a greenhouse gas) is released into the atmosphere. Although some landfill sites have
methods to capture this methane gas, it is easier to stop the gas from being released in the first
place.
Improve the quality of your soil
Compost increases water retention and slowly releases it to plants. With enough water in your soil,
you won’t have to water your plants so often as the compost will do the job for you!
Treat your plants!
Adding compost will increase the nutrient content in your soil as finished compost is made up of
nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and potassium. It also has elements that are usually not in
commercial fertiliser such as carbon, magnesium, calcium, copper, boron, iron, and zinc. This,
therefore, reduces the need for chemical aid in plant growth as using compost to nurture plants
enriches the soil with natural and beneficial bacteria. It has also been theorised that plants that have
been grown with compost are less likely to suffer from diseases.
Adding worms
There is also the option to add worms to your compost bin. The best composting worms are ‘red
worms’ as these have quite an appetite! There are many benefits of doing this as worms are fast at
devouring your compost and producing nutrient-rich content. Under the right conditions, it has been
theorised that worms can eat around half their weight in vegetation in a single day! Worms also
reduce the odour as they break down the contents of the bin a lot faster, meaning rot has no time to
occur. This is ideal for those who have a compost bin indoors. The result of adding worms to your
compost will also produce a better-quality end product. Worm’s leavings contains the worm’s gut
bacteria and mucus and these substances are incredibly nutritious to plants. Additionally, the liquid
(or ‘tea’) which the worms leave behind can be used as a fantastic fertilizer but remember to water
this down before doing so. Overall, I’d say that worms are a welcome addition to your compost bin.
They help the pile decrease and speed up the composting procedure and let’s not forget the happy
worms you’ll be feeding in the process!
Composting turns trash into treasure. It is a rewarding activity as it offers a chance for people to help
the environment whilst also creating a self-sufficient and nutritious garden!
Written by Leah Bennett
