Composting at NCMNS
For immediate release ‐ July 12, 2019
Contact: Kari Wouk, 919.707.9879. Images available upon request
The Immortal Banana
Composting helps divert waste from landfill, or reduce waste sent to landfill, and supports healthy soils.
Did you know that the banana peel you threw away yesterday will live forever in the landfill? It’s true. Landfills are not designed to treat waste, only bury it. The trash you throw away is sealed under a plastic and clay liner, and without oxygen and moisture, it will break down very slowly and produce landfill gas, a harmful greenhouse gas.
You might imagine that something biodegradable, like food or paper, would just melt away eventually, even in a landfill environment. But that’s not how it works.
So the next time you go to throw away a banana peel, consider composting it instead. We want to make food for plants, not a museum of our food waste.
Conserve the Earth, not your garbage. Join the compost crusade!
By the Numbers
The NC Museum of Natural Sciences began an on-site composting program in January 2019.
Between January 2019 and March 2020, the Museum diverted 33,773 pounds of waste from the landfill, which is equivalent to taking 326 cars off the road for 2 weeks!
Composting helps the environment while relieving you of biodegradable trash!
You Can Do It!
Order Out
The easiest way to compost is to let someone else do it for you. Consider a service program, like Compost Now.
Backyard DIY
Build or buy your own compost bin for food and lawn waste at home.
Find out the many different styles and materials of compost bins.
The Worms Crawl In
Up your compost game by bringing in the worms. Try vermiculture!
How to create and maintain an indoor worm composting bin.
Read More
Learn more about the benefits of composting for our environment with our growing article series:
- Save Marine Mammals! End Plastic Use and Compost!
- Naturally Replenish Soils and Protect Downstream Ecosystems!
- Composting Connections: Climate Impact on Sea Turtles