The Benefits of Composting Green & Brown Material
The Benefits of Composting Green & Brown Material
Composting is a great recycling practice that typically lets you kill two birds with one stone. Composting would require you to recycle waste material and use it to enrich the soil. Through composting green and brown material, you reduce the amount of garbage sent to landfills, and at the same time, the compost you make helps enrich the soil with valuable nutrients necessary for plant growth.
Composting does not necessarily mean you collect all the waste material, mix them up, and spread them across farming grounds. There are procedures you should follow for the compost to be viable. For instance, you must consider the type of waste you use for compost and the ratio. The waste material basics of compost include green and brown material, water, and soil.
What are Green and Brown Materials?
Green and Brown materials play specific yet vital roles in the viability of compost. What is green and brown waste exactly? Brown waste is biodegradable contents that include:
- Dried leaves
- Tree branches and twigs
- Woodchips
- Shredded paper
- Sawdust
- Cardboard
- Flower clippings
- Natural tea bags
Green waste, on the other hand, is organic waste which comprises:
- Grass clippings,
- Vegetable waste
- Fruit scraps.
- Crushed eggshells
- Manure from herbivorous animals
- Ground Coffee
Benefits of Composting Green and Brown Material
Green and brown waste work harmoniously for the good of the compost and will also create significant benefits to environmental sustainability. Brown waste is an excellent source of carbon which translates to the energy component of the compost and, therefore, a healthy source of energy for plants.
Green waste is rich in nitrogen and protein, which are great nourishments for the soil. Consequently, composting green and brown materials helps you reduce the cost of purchasing fertilizers to supplement plant growth. Chemical fertilizers can also degrade your soil and lead to a loss of soil carbon.
When dumped in landfills, green waste takes significant time to break down when compacted due to a lack of oxygen, leading to the emission of methane gas. By reducing the amount of waste in landfills, you help to lower your carbon footprint.
The wet nature of green waste also helps create moisture for the compost, which reduces the need for excess watering. Compost balances soil density, helps retain moisture, and prevents plant diseases, leading to healthier and stronger plant growth.
The Ratio of Brown to Green Waste
It is essential to balance the ratio of brown to green waste because the balance will ensure the compost works appropriately. Without a proper balance, the compost may not heat up as required and may take longer to break down.
The exact ratio of brown to green is quite debatable, owing to the different recommendations of experts. However, your pile needs more brown waste than green waste. Experts say that for your compost to be viable, you can pile about 6-8 inches of brown waste and a few inches of green and top it up with soil. Since you will frequently check the progress of your compost, this might change. For instance, if you need to heat the compost, you will add more green waste, and if the compost starts to smell, you will need to add brown waste to mitigate it.
Learn More About Brown and Green Material Recycling at Atlantic Waste Group
Composting is an excellent way of recycling waste that may otherwise have detrimental environmental effects. At Atlantic Waste Group, we can help you stay environmentally responsible through brown and green material recycling services.
We have access to the best recycling centers, and we will ensure that waste materials from your home are put to good use. Contact us online or call us at 410-768-4720 for all your recycling needs.