{"id":41487,"date":"2024-09-17t18:09:42","date_gmt":"2024-09-17t18:09:42","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.getitdoneaz.com\/?p=41487"},"modified":"2024-09-17t22:06:40","modified_gmt":"2024-09-17t22:06:40","slug":"composting-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.getitdoneaz.com\/story\/composting-101\/","title":{"rendered":"ask pf | giving the scoop on composting in d.c."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

last week, we crowdsourced ask pf column topics on our instagram story asking followers to submit their burning questions about sustainable living as a college student. if you missed it, make sure to follow planet forward on instagram (@planetforward<\/a>) to catch the next time we crowdsource column topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

we received a number of interesting questions pertaining to sustainability. however, one question stood out to me: how do you compost in d.c.?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

i chose this question not only because of planet forward\u2019s location in the heart of washington, d.c. but also because it has been at the forefront of my mind recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

i recently made the cross-country move from california to washington, d.c., to join the planet forward team as an editorial assistant and begin graduate school at george washington university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the move to d.c. from california has come with numerous exciting and eye-opening moments. however, one of the first differences i noticed about my new home was the lack of green trash cans around the city to dispose of organic waste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

growing up in california, it was the norm to have a green waste bin alongside your recycle and trash bins. for me, the green bin was the receptacle to throw lawn clippings, fallen leaves, and \u2014 after hopping on the compost train a few years ago \u2014 my food scraps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

to hype up my home state for a moment, in 2022, california began to require organic waste collection services for households and businesses in every city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the convenience of composting in california is key to the state\u2019s success. when every household is equipped with a green bin that\u2019s taken from the curb weekly, there\u2019s almost no excuse not to compost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

in stark contrast, there exists a lack of government-provided composting services in d.c. this means people have to get crafty with how they compost in the district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

with this column entry, i hope to show you that while composting in d.c. may be more difficult than in other parts of the u.s., it doesn\u2019t have to be an impossible task. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

why compost?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

composting is important because it reduces the greenhouse gas emissions emitted when organic waste is sent to and decomposed in landfills. according to the epa, food waste accounts for 58% of landfill methane emissions<\/a>. separating food waste from other trash allows bacteria to decompose the organic material and recycle the waste into nutrient-rich soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

by redirecting food waste from landfills to the compost bin, we as students and individuals can do our part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

what can you compost?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

the foods that can be composted are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n