Hands holding dirt  and two earth worms
Shutterstock.com

Why Is This Dirt So Amazing?

It’s not just any old dirt. It’s compost—and it’s made from trash!

From the April 2022 Issue
Other Key Skill: supporting a claim
Enlargeable infographic about composting

iStockPhoto/Getty Images (trash); Martin Poole/Getty Images (bin); Shutterstock.com (all other images)

The Numbers

  • Americans generate about 290 million tons of trash each year.
  • More than 30% of what we throw in the trash could have been composted. 
  • Composting has been around for 12,000 years.

Sources for statistics: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Geographic

Composting Is:

  • For Everyone: It can be done in backyards or indoors or by giving scraps to a local organization to compost for you. 
  • Safe: Compost is safe to use in home gardens. 
  • Earth-Friendly: It reduces the amount of trash going to landfills.

How It Works:

  1. Natural waste is placed in a pile or bin. 
  2. Over time, decomposers such as bacteria, fungi, and worms break down the waste, leaving behind nutrients.
  3. Eventually, the mixture turns into a soil-like material that can be used as fertilizer. That’s compost! 

Can You Compost That?

YES!

  • fruits and vegetables
  • eggshells
  • cardboard and paper 
  • leaves and grass 
  • hair and fur

NO!

  • dairy products 
  • bones
  • pet waste 
  • fats and oils 
  • plastic

Writing Prompt

Create a PSA about the value of composting. Your PSA can be in the form of a poster, short video, or slideshow. 

This article was originally published in the April 2022 issue.

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