Almost all organic wastes can be composted. Organic wastes from the kitchen can be put into the compost. This includes vegetable cuttings, fruit peels and pits, and even coffee grounds and eggshells (eggshells will no break down with the rest but help to oxygenate the compost and improve drainage). Make sure to avoid meat scraps and fats. For outdoor wastes, dead leaves, grass clippings, and plant wastes are all compostable. If you have dogs, avoid adding grass clippings from the backyard. Also avoid adding weeds whenever possible, since you don’t want to add seeds from noxious plants into your garden. Finally, maintaining a healthy balance between nitrogen and carbon will help speed up the composting process and cut down on odors. The best way to ensure a good ratio of nitrogen to carbon in your pile is to include roughly 2 parts green organics to 1 part brown organics (this is more of a general guideline than an exact science, so don’t worry if you can’t achieve this ratio exactly–even one part green to one part brown organics works well). Composting is great for the environment and can also help with home gardening. Gardeners call compost “black gold” because it is such an effective fertilizer. Sprinkle compost on your garden or mix it with peat moss and pearlite for a great potting mix.

When organics get sent to the landfill, they get trapped underneath other garbage. When this happens, the lack of oxygen causes the organic waste to produce methane gas as it breaks down. Methane is roughly 25 times worse than carbon dioxide for contributing to climate change. This can be avoided by composting at home, but many people don’t know how to compost or are concerned about the smell. Below, we explain how to compost and ways to reduce nasty smells coming from the compost pile. The first step is to purchase a kitchen compost pail and create an outdoor compost pile. A kitchen pail is a small receptacle for organic wastes that sits on your kitchen counter and is emptied into the outdoor compost pile regularly. Some kitchen compost pails come with filters to help reduce the smell. Just be sure to replace the filter regularly or it will stop working, and always empty the compost pail every few days, rinsing the pail each time (Tip: put a folded piece of paper towel in the bottom of the pail to help make cleaning and emptying easier). There are several ways to create an outdoor compost pile. The cheapest way is to dig a hole in the ground and dump your organic wastes inside. This is typically only done on large properties such as acreages where a lot of yard wastes accumulate. If you decide to go this route, make sure to fence off your pile to prevent critters and pests from getting into the pile and making a mess. In the city, it is typical to use a compost bin for your outdoor pile. Compost bins are large black bins with holes in the sides for air circulation. Bins can be purchased from the garden section of your local hardware store. Alternatively, you can make your own compost bin by drilling holes in a black garbage pail. For a compost pile to be effective, it must be turned regularly. Turning your compost involves mixing it up to increase air circulation throughout the pile. If organic wastes break down without the presence of oxygen, methane is created. To avoid this, the pile must be turned regularly. Turning the pile also increases the speed of the composting process. To turn your pile, you can use a shovel or garden fork, though this can be difficult in store-bought bins. An alternative is to purchase a compost turner . These tools designed specifically to mix up the compost pile can be found online or at your local hardware store. Finally, you can purchase outdoor compost tumblers that turn the pile over with a crank, eliminating the need to mix the pile with a fork or compost turner. Again, the pile should be turned over regularly, generally a minimum of once a week to be effective and reduce methane production. Turning over the pile also reduces odours. The more you turn or mix your compost pile, the less it will smell. Also, try placing the pile away from where you spend time. Ideally, place the compost pile in a corner of the yard, away from the patio and back door and in a shady location.

FAQs Archive - Page 12 of 15 - Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues

Q: What else can I do to become more sustainable?

There are many ways we can lead more sustainable lives. The biggest area in which we can increase our sustainability is transportation. Edmonton is considered a “driving city,” but it doesn’t have to be. The introduction of separated bike lanes has made cycling easier and safer than ever here in Edmonton. The city even plows the bike lanes so the hardiest among us can bike throughout the winter! Using public transportation, walking, and cycling are all great ways to reduce your carbon footprint and lead a more sustainable lifestyle. Also, check out this link to find information about the new addition of E-scooters to Edmonton’s transportation scene. Another sustainable activity is home gardening. Tending a vegetable garden reduces the environmental toll of transporting produce to the grocery store. As an added benefit, growing produce at home eliminates the risk of consuming pesticides and encourages healthy eating. After the initial investment, it also saves money! Don’t have a backyard for composting and gardening? Check out our “Gardening in a Box” guidebook for information about Community Gardens . Have suggestions for ways people can become more sustainable and reduce their carbon footprint? Email greenleagues@efcl.org .

Q: How else can I reduce waste?

Always look for more ways to reduce plastic use and to re-use anything. Consider purchasing tote bags or boxes to bring to the grocery store. Grocery bags account for a huge amount of plastic consumption. Also, consider purchasing reusable straws, and skip the lid on purchased drinks whenever possible. Better yet, make your coffee and tea at home and use a reusable thermos; you’ll save money and the environment all in one go! Another part of the City of Edmonton’s zero waste plan is the banning of single-use plastics. With pressure from citizens to address climate change, you can expect this change to roll out soon. If you’re done with something but it’s still good, bring it to the Good Will or put it up on Kijiji or Craigslist so someone else can use it. Similarly, if you need something, check Kijiji first; often, you can find perfectly good things with little to no wear for a fraction of the price when purchased new. We live in a throw-away culture, but we don’t have to. There are more ways than ever to conveniently find used items or donate used things for others. Every time an object is re-used, it cuts down not only on the energy and materials used in manufacturing but also on the transportation emissions associated with bringing it to the store or your doorstep.

Q: Where do I bring items that can’t go in my compost, blue bag, or to the landfill?

All items that cannot be recycled, composted or sent to the landfill can be brought to your local Eco Station. There are small fees associated with bringing certain items to the Eco Station, but they are never expensive. Some items that should be brought to the Eco Station include batteries, broken appliances, and scrap metals, electronics, household hazardous wastes, and large items and mixed wastes such as old furniture or picture frames. For more information, visit the City of Edmonton’s website here .

Q: What can I put in my blue bag?

While this might change in the future, in Edmonton we don’t currently have to separate our paper, plastic, metal, and glass for recycling. Most paper, plastic, metal, and glass can be recycled, with a few exceptions. Never include any broken glass or sharp metals in your recycling bag as it is hazardous to sorters. And always rinse everything clean before putting it into the recycling. If you’re unsure of what you can put into your blue bag, download the WasteWise app on the Google Play or App Store on your phone, check out this guide from the city of Edmonton, or visit their website here .

Q: How can I reduce my heating/natural gas consumption?

Due to our cold climate, heating our homes accounts for roughly 42% of residential energy use in Canada. Like water and electricity, there are a few easy steps you can take to reduce your heating (and cooling). The first and most important is to use your programmable thermostat. Most homes have thermostats that can be programmed, but many do not know how to use them or choose not to (Tip: search the model of your thermostat online and find the manual to learn how to use the programmable settings). Program your thermostat to 15 to 17°C when no one is home and when you go to sleep, and then to climb back up to 18 to 20°C before you get home or wake up. You will hardly notice the difference since it will only cool off when you aren’t home or when you’re asleep. This will have the bonus of helping you sleep better! Another way to reduce heating is to close your windows during the day in the summer. Most people believe that having their windows open when it’s hot outside will help keep things cool, but the opposite can be true. If it’s hotter outside than inside, closing your windows helps to create a small insulative barrier that will keep things cooler indoors. Just remember to open your windows at night when it cools off. If you’re concerned about airflow, try opening 2 windows on each floor (one east window and one west window works best) to keep air circulating and close the rest. Also, consider closing your blinds and curtains on hot sunny days and cold winter nights. Closing curtains and drapes when the sun is shining will reduce passive solar radiation within the home, and closing curtains and drapes in winter adds one more insulative barrier that helps keep the heat in. Just remember to keep curtains open during the day in the winter to let in the sun, heating your home and letting the light in, reducing your heating load and the need to turn on the lights.