Composting is a great way to utilize the billions of pounds of food and landscaping waste produced each year. Compost is simply a heap of wet organic waste, also known as green waste, that breaks down over time and can be used to fertilize gardens and improve the overall quality of soil. Composting also help keeps unnecessary waste out of landfills and is exceptional for the environment.

Unfortunately, not many people compost, usually because of the misconception that it is extremely difficult and time consuming. Rolla resident, Kristen Gallagher, devoted to composting and explains how simple it really is.

“You don’t need any expensive, fancy equipment. We have a Tupperware container that we keep on the counter and as we chop vegetables. If there is leftover dinner, we open the lid, we put it in. When the bin is filled we take it outside. We have a big compost pile in our backyard and we rake it and shovel it –depending on the time of the year– once a week,”
Gallagher said.

However, composting is not just about food waste. Green waste also includes landscaping waste such as leaves, branches, pallets, and even old Christmas trees. This waste is a little harder to compost in the backyard. Luckily, the Rolla Recycling Center is ready to facilitate landscape and food waste with their large compost site. Stephanie Dowdy, the recycling specialist at the recycling center, encourages people to use this local resource.

“The biggest benefit is it is free for Rolla residents to use and bring their items up here so they don’t have to pay to dispose of their yard waste. During the spring, summer, and fall months we also pick it up from the residents for free,” Dowdy said.

The community is also encouraged to pick up compost from the Rolla Recycling Center, and drop off their organic waste, although there are some guidelines.

“No treated wood or huge trees that are cut down. They have to be a certain size,” Dowdy said.
With this in mind pick out an old coffee can and start your own compost pile. Help reduce the size of landfills and replenish the Earth.