Anthropogenic (human generated) waste materials are a source of great concern. The amount of space on the planet is finite, and as the human population expands, available space decreases. There are few truly wild regions left in the world due to the growth of the human race. With this growth comes serious problems. Where do we live? Where can we grow food? What about the by-products of human existence? The latter represents perhaps the greatest dilemma. Everyday human life produces a staggering amount of waste material. Much of this waste is carted off to landfills, where it can be left to decompose over a period of years.
Certain human waste products, such as plastics and metals, do not decompose readily, and must be left in the landfill for hundreds or thousands of years. Others decompose rapidly, breaking down in just a few weeks. Most often, these short-lived wastes are organic in nature, mostly leftovers from your dinner and grass clippings, weeds and sticks from your yard. That’s right, food and grass. Continue reading ‘Composting’
