Compost Leftover Food
Food Waste

Let’s face it. The amount of food we waste daily is enormous. We are all contributors. But how many of us make a conscious effort to only waste what is necessary?
According to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the US generates more than 34 million tons of food waste each year. Food waste is more than 14 percent of the total municipal solid waste (MSW) stream. However, only less than three percent of the 34 million tons of food waste generated in 2009 was recovered and recycled. And the rest – 33 million tons – was thrown away. Food waste now represents the single largest component of MSW reaching landfills and incinerators. It is astounding.

Since we now throw away more food than anything else, that means we are throwing away a lot of our money. But beyond the economic reasons, food waste has a huge negative impact on the environment. When food is disposed in a landfill, it quickly rots and becomes a significant source of methane — a potent greenhouse gas with 21 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide.
Landfills are a major source of human-related methane in the United States, accounting for more than 20 percent of all methane emissions.
Happy Compost
Composting is not a new idea. It is nature’s way of recycling nutrients and returning them to the soil so that they can be used again. Composting is simple; it is an incredible soil amendment that you can easily make right at home. But in urban settings, the idea of composting of the food waste hasn’t been widely practiced particularly at homes due to offensive smell the waste causes.

Why Compost?

Composting benefits you and your community!
Not only does this wasted valuable resource have huge economic impacts, it also has huge and immediate environmental impacts. Reducing, recovering, and recycling food waste diverts organic materials from landfills and incinerators, reducing GHG emissions from landfills and waste combustion. The use of recycled food waste (compost) has many environmental benefits such as: improving soil health and structure; increasing drought resistance; and reducing the need for supplemental water, fertilizers, and pesticides.

EAA wants to expand this approach the easier way for all New Yorkers to voluntarily participate by using the used coffee cups or flower pots. Following the simple steps, you can be a happy composter!
Procedure:
  1) Fill the bottom of the flower pot with a layer of soils.
      (If you use a plastic cup, then make holes at the bottom.)
  2) Put food waste over the soils and make several layers alternately with food waste and soil.
  3) Mix the soil and the food waste thoroughly once or twice a week.
  4) After a month or so, the decomposed soil is now ready to be used to plant a seed or to transplant.
It is simple. Keep the following in mind to make home composting experiences a great success.
  • Dehydrate food wastes that otherwise easily become foul-smelling.
  • Chop the food waste into small pieces. (This will increase the surface area that leads to faster chemical reaction.)
  • Decrease the waste volume by drying it in the microwave. (Recommended for fruits and vegetable disposal)
  • Keep well-sealed wastes in the fridge.
  • Wrap the waste with newspaper.
  • Spray Clorox, Vinegar, and Plum extracts if needed.

Below items are useful for composting experiences more pleasurable!

What to compost

• Leftover - Anything Except Cake, Biscuits, Cooking Oil, Bread, Pasta,
Meat, Fish, Fat
• Dairy Product - Egg Shells Except Milk, Cheese, Yogurt, Cream
• Fruit - Anything
• Kitchen Waste - Coffee, Fruit Juice, Tea, Egg Boxes Except Rice
• Nuts - Pistachios
• Vegetables- Anything

EAA hosts regular online/offline composting workshops, organize composting site tours to community gardens.
Contact us for more information.

Dried Green Tea Leaves and
Tea Bags

Coffee Grinds

70% Ethanol used
as Disinfectant

- Dehydration
- Offensive Odor Treatment

- Deodorization

- Neutralization of an
acidic soil to basic pH

- Protection from
pathogens