Liza Burke from Seattle Tilth writes:
Did you know that Seattle now prohibits food waste from going in the garbage? Food waste in landfills is a big problem, accounting for nearly one quarter of methane emissions in the US. Alternatively, when it’s kept out of the garbage and composted, food waste is an incredibly useful soil amendment, turning garbage into “gardener’s gold.” The benefits of compost are huge – reducing global warming, storm water pollution and waste, while building healthy soil and growing healthy plants.
Now in its 30th year, Seattle Tilth offers the Master Composter / Soil Builder program in partnership with Seattle Public Utilities to train community members to become compost educators. Community members participate in 28 hours of classroom learning, hands-on practice and field trips. Learn how to compost while learning about soil science, natural yard care and recycling!
Training includes eight sessions during four weeks starting on Tuesday, March 24 in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood (4649 Sunnyside Ave N). After the training, Master Composters contribute 35 hours of volunteer outreach teaching practical techniques to other community members. Volunteers work on projects of their own choosing – at schools, churches, community centers, businesses and community gardens.
Apply by March 14
The Master Composter program is for Seattle residents only. King County residents who live outside of Seattle are encouraged to apply to similar programs we offer in King County. Applications are dueMarch 14. Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.
Questions? Come to an Info Session!
Interested and want to learn more about this program? Attend one of the following info sessions:
- Monday, Feb. 16, 6-7 p.m. at the Good Shepherd Center (4649 Sunnyside Ave N)
- Thursday, Mar. 5 in South Seattle (TBA, check the website for details)
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The Master Composter/Soil Builder program is managed by Seattle Tilth and sponsored by Seattle Public Utilities.
Question: Notwithstanding the fact that compost in a dump is useless and compost in a bin makes great gardening fodder, I would assume that no matter where it decomposes, the methane output is the same. Am I wrong? Does a given amount of food waste necessarily produce more methane in a garbage dump than it does in a compost bin?
Hi gardeners/composters! I am the proud owner of several house rabbits and also volunteer at Special Bunny, which is a local bunny rescue. This means I have an unlimited supply of the world’s best compost–bunny poo. It’s mixed with sawdust (the litter we use) and timothy hay. I used to put it in the yard waste, but got dinged because it’s animal waste (tho, as vegetarians, bunnies do not produce toxic waste like cats and dogs)…anyways, I now throw it all away. BUT, if you want some, you can have it! I’d much rather give it away to gardeners to be used as the gardening gold it is.
Just contact me for my address, leave a bucket or container or request for a plastic bag full, and come ‘n get it. Donations to the bunny rescue are always welcome but not required.
Yes, food waste produces more methane in a garbage dump. The keyword here is “aerobic”, a decomposition process that uses available oxygen to break organic materials down to carbon dioxide. Anaerobic decomposition – as happens to stuff buried in a landfill, to the extent it decomposes at all – produces methane (where carbon dioxide has two oxygen atoms, methane has none.) As I understand it, composting is basically about creating conditions that foster aerobic decomposition.
Tamara,
I’m a gardener who would be happy to take some bunny-poo off your hands. Not sure how to contact you privately to discuss pickup arrangements. What was your thought on that?