It’s a good idea to start composting, even in the city

When my boys were in elementary school, their science teachers launched a program in the cafeteria called the ORT Report, in which the students measured their food waste. The goal was to cut down on their environmental footprint.

According to the dictionary, an ort is “a morsel left at a meal.” The kids measured their orts by scraping their plates into bins lined up at the back of the cafeteria. There were bins designated for food waste, recycling, silverware and plates. The children then weighed the bin of food waste and graphed it on a large chart in the cafeteria. They used their math skills to add the day’s amount to the overall total, and to see how they were tracking against other classes and compared with past days and weeks.

This program taught my kids what was recyclable and made them think before they helped themselves to food that they might not eat.

They have asked to undertake a similar program at home with their younger sister. As you can imagine, I am not eager to line up bins of waste in my kitchen or to invest in a large scale, but the idea alone has certainly resulted in us observing how much waste we produce. The boys have also been commenting on how many garbage bags we take to the trash each week. I like to think they care because they are becoming environmentally conscious, but my guess is it’s actually because they are tired of carrying the bags.

According the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American disposes of almost 4 1/2 pounds of trash a day. Of that amount, 20 percent to 30 percent is food scraps and yard debris that can be composted to help the earth instead of hurt it. As my boys calculated, if 10 percent of the population cut down on landfill waste by this amount, there would be a lot less pollution. Sophisticated math, boys.

So we have decided to start composting again; we had stopped a few years ago when we moved and ditched our old compost tumbler. I thought perhaps the technology had changed during this period. Surprisingly, it really hasn’t; there are a few tried-and-true ways to compost, even for those of us living in the city.

Why compost?

When food scraps go into a landfill, they create methane gas that enters our environment and warms the planet. The water in food scraps also combines with other landfill garbage to create toxic sludge that then seeps into our water system and earth. If we kept food scraps out of landfills, not only would we reduce the size of our landfills, but we’d also produce less methane and toxic sludge.

Compost also benefits the environment because it reduces the need for chemical fertilizer; compost soil is naturally richer in nutrients and has a finer texture for growing. Compost requires less water as it more effectively holds onto moisture. Growing vegetables in compost tends to produce more nutrient-rich vegetables.

How to compost

Mix equal parts of green nitrogen-rich materials (food scraps, flowers, plants) with brown carbon-rich materials (dry leaves, shredded paper, dryer lint, straw) and add water. Turn and mix regularly.

■ Backyard pile: This option is best for individuals with a large outdoor space in a less urban environment. Find a dry, shady spot near a water source. Once you have started the pile, cover with a tarp to keep moist, and turn over regularly to aerate.

■ Compost tumblers: These are ideal for folks living in the city who either do not have the space for a backyard pile or are worried about rats and other unwanted animals. Turn your tumbler regularly to mix and aerate.

■ Vermicomposting: Composting with worms makes the most nutrient-dense soil and is easy to do inside and in small spaces, but also requires the most maintenance.