Composting is the process of encouraging the decomposition of organic waste—such as food scraps—using microbial processes.

Think of composting as the accelerated process of decomposing organic matter—speeding up the way in which nature itself recycles such matter. When a leaf falls in the forest, it is acted upon by a whole host of creatures, from microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, as well as worms and insects. When we construct a compost pile—mixtures of organic waste and wood chips or leaf litter—then we are creating the conditions within which decomposers thrive. When the composting process is completed, organic food scraps become transformed into a dark, nutrient rich, crumbly material that can be used to enrich soil.

Adding compost to soil improves soil texture, loosening clay soils, improving them for root growth, while helping light, sandy soils better retain water and nutrients. Compost helps aerate plant roots, while providing essential minerals and nutrients to promote healthy plant growth.

More than 30 percent of garbage is food waste that could have been composted. When you compost, you keep valuable resources out of the landfill and avoid methane emissions that contribute to climate change.

When compost is returned to the soil, it adds nutrients, retains water, increases yields when growing food and stores carbon. Using compost on lawns and gardens also reduces pesticide use, reduces stormwater run-off, and returns important nutrients to the soil so more plants can thrive.

A convenient way to store food scraps (before they are collected to add to the compost pile) is to keep them in the refrigerator or freezer. This method prevents the build-up of mold, foul odors and the attraction of flies or other unwanted pests.

Odors and flies will not harm you or the food waste, but they can be a nuisance. Here are some helpful tips to keep them at bay:

• Store your compost in the refrigerator or freezer.
• Use the news! Lining compost bin with newspaper or a paper towel is easy and helps keep your containers clean.
• To reduce odors, sprinkle baking soda in your compost bin.
• Wash your compost bin thoroughly with soap and water after every collection.

At the moment, Ramapo College doesn’t have the infrastructure to accept all kinds of organic materials. Therefore, to prevent disease and odors, certain organic materials, such as animal products, shouldn’t be included in your compost bin.

Here are some links to great resources on home composting:

• nyc.gov/compostproject
• makecompost.nyc/makecompost
• nj.gov/dep/dshw/recycling/processes.htm