Today, as Indian cities face the mounting challenge of managing colossal waste, composting has emerged as a powerful means of handling wet and horticulture waste. This approach to managing organic waste not only reduces the amount of trash sent to landfills but also creates a valuable resource for local gardens, parks, and farms.
Composting is an environmentally friendly and best way of handling garden and kitchen waste. It involves the controlled decomposition of organic materials in a pile or bin, and the resulting compost acts as a natural fertilizer that improves soil structure, retains moisture, and promotes healthy microbial activity.
Dried leaves can be made into mulch in leaf bins or composters and are very beneficial. A layer of mulch conserves soil moisture, suppresses weeds, regulates soil temperature, and adds organic matter to the soil as it decomposes. Leaf mulching is a simple, cost-effective way to recycle leaves and enrich gardens and parks without resorting to chemical fertilizers.
Community composting is a collaborative effort of residential colonies/condominiums/ complexes to collect and process organic waste into nutrient-rich compost. For example, at Silver Oaks – a condominium of over 700 apartments – waste management is done according to the Solid Waste Management.
Through the following ways, the waste is managed regularly:
1. Waste is segregated by each household 4 ways – Wet Waste, Recyclable Waste, Reject/Sanitary Waste, and E-Waste
2. Waste is collected door-to-door
3. Wet Waste is sent for composting
4. Dried leaves are placed in leaf bins for mulching
Both composting and leaf mulching play a significant role in reducing waste sent to landfills, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and fostering a sustainable environment. Moreover, these practices encourage individuals to view organic waste as a resource rather than a burden. Embracing composting and leaf mulching is a step toward a greener future—one where humans work harmoniously with nature to close the loop on waste.
