• Emilee begins composting on her unit’s balcony in Tempe, Arizona
Hello everyone!
My name is Emilee Peretic, and I am a junior at Arizona State University aiming for a Bachelor of Science in Sustainability with a focus on Sustainable Ecosystems.
This Spring, I have started interning for Michael Mobbs of Sustainable House, who is working with me alongside my honest journey to curtail my food waste through discovering the world of composting. (Note the U.S. spelling in my blog.)
As I mentioned, I am attending Arizona State University, which is located in Tempe, Arizona. I moved across the country from my home in Louisville, Kentucky to educate myself on sustainability, environmental science, and whatever I can do to lessen my impact on our beautiful planet.
In doing some research on the thoughts of my local government surrounding composting, I have found that the city of Tempe highly encourages its residents to take part in this process. Tempe has been highly efficient in creating a city with numerous sustainable elements, even going so far as to offer a phone number to call for a free recycled compost container to begin your own journey to reducing food waste [2].
The website for my local government not only discusses how a resident can begin their own compost bin, but they also mention the Tempe Compost/Inert Facility that sells compost. The compost that is sold by the city of Tempe is made by the residents, where customers of Tempe Solid Waste dispose of their organic materials each month into a collection bin that is taken to the facility for sale.
The Curbside Green Organics Collection Program collects the waste weekly, the same day as the recycling service. The cost of the Green Organics container is only $5.94 each month, and gives residents the opportunity to take part in something that will benefit their community and the overall environmental care of the region.
There are two types of compost that are sold by the City of Tempe, one of which is of commercial quality and is to be used for lawns and potted plants, and the other is a more coarse texture for plant and flower gardens [4]. The price of the two composts are listed in the chart below.
• The price of Tempe’s two compost types
Given how inexpensive it is to compost at home, seeing these numbers makes it even more rewarding to be completing such a task by myself. However, I greatly appreciate the city of Tempe’s efforts to allow for residents to take part in whatever is most convenient for them; either making their own at home or purchasing it from a facility.
• The Tempe Compost/Inert Facility that sells compost collected from local residents
The trash services offered by my apartment complex through the city of Tempe cost roughly $30 a month and are collected by a valet trash service outside of our unit doors between Sunday through Thursday. There is only one recycling bin available in our trash room, and it is primarily used for individuals who have just moved in and have large quantities of cardboard boxes. After the trash is collected, it is taken to the Waste Management Sky Harbor Transfer Station. Seeing as this is located in a major metropolitan area, it is then moved to a nearby landfill. I was not able to find the exact location of where my building’s trash ends up, but it is most likely the Salt River Landfill, located roughly 30 minutes away. I have driven by it several times, and I can tell you that it is a massive operation and looks dreadful amongst the beautiful mountains in the background.
• An image of the Waste Management Sky Harbor Transfer Station near my apartment
• The Salt River Landfill near Fountain Hills, Arizona, just outside of Scottsdale
Despite some initial concerns in successfully composting on a small balcony beaten down by the heat of the Arizona sun, I am finally on my way to reducing the amount of food waste that I produce, and therefore, my carbon footprint.
Composting has always been something I have kept in the back of my mind, yet I never seemed to be in the right place to do so. Given that I have spent the past two years in dorm rooms, I think it was reasonable that I had put this task aside for the sake of my roommates. Now that I live in an apartment alone, however, it is still going to be a relatively difficult task.
Although I have a balcony to complete the project, there will still be some mountains to climb. In my discussion with the complex management, composting will be permitted on the property as long as there are no complaints from neighbors, specifically regarding smell. Of course, this was a concern of mine just for personal reasons, because who wants their home to have the aroma of dirt and decaying food? Thankfully for me, I have access to the proper tools and am willing to complete trial and error until I finally have a prosperous compost bin.
Before I began this process, I did some research about composting and attempted to first learn the science behind it. In simple terms, composting is essentially the controlled decomposition of organic waste, which can later be used to fertilize soil and plants with the resulting mix that is rich in nutrients [1].
• A simple graphic on composting from The Art and Science of Composting
It is important to note the differences between anaerobic and aerobic composting.
The type of composting that I will be taking part in is the later, aerobic composting. Before going into this project, I was unaware of the contrasts between the two, but I now understand that aerobic composting uses organisms, like worms, that require oxygen for their survival to break down organic matter. The primary nutrients required by the microorganisms that assist in the decomposition process are carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These nutrients are also primary in plants, so their concentrations will directly affect the value of the compost [6]. In anaerobic composting, decomposition occurs where oxygen is very limited or absent in supply, like in landfills. Aerobic composting is a relatively quick process, where the compost can be ready in as soon as 6 weeks, whereas anaerobic composting can take up to 6 months [5]. Below is a brief graphic going over their differences.
• Table displaying the distinctions between aerobic and anaerobic composting
My journey to composting started at The Home Depot, where I collected the items I needed for a bin, as well as additions to the small garden on my balcony. Despite trying to find a commercially made compost bin in the store, I found that they are quite difficult to come by unless you order them, which I did not have the time or budget for.
For my DIY project, I obtained a storage tote with a lid, and placed it inside of a wooden crate to blend with the wooden box of my garden. In order to be successful, the box needed holes to be poked through the plastic. This was one of the most difficult tasks of making this cheap do-it-yourself bin, as I did not have a power drill, nor did I know anyone who had one! I pulled out the tiny starter tool kit that everyone’s father buys them when they move away to college and used a single screwdriver to puncture the top and bottom. I was worried that the plastic would crack without the precision of a power drill, but it turned out well.
• The supplies I gathered from the store to begin my project
I began with a relatively simple kit to launch the project, including potting soil, a wooden planter, plastic planters, insect spray, some new gardening gloves, and a plethora of seeds and sprouted plants! I decided to buy chamomile and mint seeds to add to my small garden, as I love homemade tea.
In addition to this, I replanted some of my kitchen plants, including parsley, basil, and rosemary. At the store, I went ahead and picked up some cherry tomato plants, strawberries, and pineapple sage to add to my lovely little collection. Hopefully in these coming summer months, my balcony will allow for the proper amount of sunlight to grow these plants, and when I have some compost ready, I will be sure to mix it with the soil.
• An image of my compost bin put together on my balcony
After putting together my compost bin, I thought about the conversation I had with the management of my apartment complex about ensuring my nearby neighbors did not have any complaints about my project. In a casual manner, I asked some of my neighbors their thoughts on composting, many of which had the same answer: “I never thought to do such a thing in an apartment.” It is quite uncommon to see individuals decide to compost in a unit, but I think as long as there is the proper amount of space, sunlight, air, and lack of complaints, then there should be no issues!
• A new addition to the garden
• One medium sized kitten to show the size of the container. It is relatively small, but still useful!
Within my first compost bin, I added several key components that I knew the worms would love. I had some leftover potting soil from my garden, so I added a layer of that. Additionally, I also incorporated some dead leaves and sticks from the park, basil and parsley cuttings, grapefruit rinds, rotten blueberries, wilted philodendron leaves, newspaper, and water. As time goes on, I will continue to add different elements to keep the worms happy.
• The wonderful beginning mixture and my helpful friends
A major concern of mine when starting this compost project was the immense amount of heat that Arizona gets, especially around this time of year. Each week, the temperature rises by roughly 5 degrees Fahrenheit when nearing the summer months. Towards the end of May through September, the highs can reach upwards of 120 degrees Fahrenheit [8].
• A graphic displaying the temperature history of Phoenix throughout 2021
If the temperatures get too hot for my compost, then the worms I have added to the mix could die. Overheated compost piles can kill crucial microbes, which may slow down the breakdown of the organic material and make me sad that I sent some harmless living creatures to their imminent deaths. I will work to manage this, as I can put a screen of some form between the sun and the compost, and if that doesn’t work I do have room for a fan on my balcony but am planning not to use it; and will continue to ensure that the compost pile is moistened with cool water. While heat is essential to any compost pile, I do not want to run the risk of killing my precious worms.
In order to calculate the amount of emissions generated by food waste that I have reduced by composting, I began to use a tool created by another intern here at Sustainable House. I highly recommend taking a look at the Coolseats food waste calculator, especially if you have any intentions of creating your own compost bin [9].
• An example of the numbers I have been putting into the calculator regarding the waste I have composted
Regardless of whether or not you chose to reduce your footprint by composting, it is still incredibly important to me to become educated on subjects in sustainability. What better way to learn than to learn by doing . . . if I make mistakes, hey, they’re just a chance to learn (I just don’t want to harm my worms!).
The fate of the world we love is in our hands, and as brilliant author and conservationist Rachel Carson states, “Future generations are unlikely to condone our lack of prudent concern for the integrity of the natural world that supports all life” (Carson, 11) [10].
Sources:
[1] http://files.webydo.com/223087/artofcompost.pdf
Cooperband, L. (2002). The Art and Science of Composting, 1–14. https://doi.org/http://files.webydo.com/223087/artofcompost.pdf
[2] https://www.tempe.gov/government/municipal-utilities/solid-waste-and-recycling/residential-recycling/composting-at-home
City of Tempe, AZ. Composting at Home | City of Tempe, AZ. Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://www.tempe.gov/government/municipal-utilities/solid-waste-and-recycling/residential-recycling/composting-at-home
[3] https://greenwichmeantime.com/time/united-states/tempe/
Time in Tempe AZ, United States. Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://greenwichmeantime.com/time/united-states/tempe/
[4] https://www.tempe.gov/government/municipal-utilities/solid-waste-and-recycling/bulk-uncontained-garbage-and-green-organics/compost-and-green-organics
City of Tempe, AZ. Tempe's Compost/Inert Facility | City of Tempe, AZ. Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://www.tempe.gov/government/municipal-utilities/solid-waste-and-recycling/bulk-uncontained-garbage-and-green-organics/compost-and-green-organics
[5] https://compostnow.org/blog/aerobic-vs-anaerobic-composting-systems/
Worp, S. Aerobic vs Anaerobic Composting Systems. CompostNow. Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://compostnow.org/blog/aerobic-vs-anaerobic-composting-systems/
[6] https://www.olus.co.uk/Basic-Science-of-Composting
Basic Science of Composting. Olus. Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://www.olus.co.uk/Basic-Science-of-Composting
[7] https://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-arizona-heat-zones-map.php
Interactive Arizona Heat Zone Map - Average Days the Temperature Exceeds 86°F. plantmaps.com. Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-arizona-heat-zones-map.php
[8] https://weatherspark.com/h/y/2460/2021/Historical-Weather-during-2021-in-Phoenix-Arizona-United-States#Figures-Summary
2021 weather history in Phoenix Arizona, United States. Phoenix 2021 Past Weather (Arizona, United States) - WeatherSpark. Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://weatherspark.com/h/y/2460/2021/Historical-Weather-during-2021-in-Phoenix-Arizona-United-States#Figures-Summary
[9] https://www.sustainablehouse.com.au/michaels-blog/2022/2/12/coolseats-food-waste-calculator-quantifies-composting-impacts
Neubrander, M. (2022, February 14). Coolseats Food Waste Calculator Quantifies Composting Impacts. Michael Mobbs' Sustainable House. Retrieved March 22, 2022, from https://www.sustainablehouse.com.au/michaels-blog/2022/2/12/coolseats-food-waste-calculator-quantifies-composting-impacts
[10]
Carson, R. (2002). Silent Spring. Mariner Books.