Why Composting is so Important for UK Gardens and the Environment

Did you know that the UK produces more food waste than any other European country? This begs the question, where does it all go? Unfortunately, most of it probably ends up in landfill. In fact, an estimated 97% of UK households do not own a compost bin/heap, and only 10% of UK households are estimated to take advantage of council schemes that pick up food and garden waste.

The Environmental Impact of Food Waste in Landfills

The problem with this is not necessarily obvious. However, the action of putting your food scraps into general waste instead of a compost bin is likely to significantly increase your carbon footprint. Landfill is one of the largest sources of methane resulting from human activity, and food waste is a major contributor to its production. Importantly, methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide with the ability to trap as much as 21 times the heat. Furthermore, the high water content of food is likely to be partially responsible for the leaching of toxic compounds from landfill into the environment.

How Composting Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Research has shown that the greenhouse gas emissions from waste decomposing in landfill is considerably higher than that when it is composted. This is because during composting, organic material (such as food or garden waste) is broken down by a variety of microorganisms. These reactions are often aerobic (meaning in the presence of oxygen), and produce non-toxic, nutrient-rich soil. The constant addition of a variety of food materials creates an environment with plenty of oxygen and is extremely rich and diverse in microorganisms. This allows many different composting processes, compared to the very limited and oxygen-restricted processes that can occur in landfill.

The Multiple Benefits of Composting in Your Garden

Composting offers numerous benefits beyond just reducing methane emissions. When you compost at home, you’re creating a valuable resource that can transform your garden whilst helping the planet:

Soil Health Improvement

Compost adds essential organic matter to your garden soil, improving its structure, maintaining a neutral pH value, and enabling the soil to better retain moisture, nutrients, and air. A healthy soil ecosystem supports beneficial microorganisms – there are more microorganisms in a teaspoonful of soil than there are humans alive on the planet!

Water Conservation

By improving soil structure, compost helps your garden soil retain moisture more effectively, reducing the need for frequent watering – particularly important during increasingly dry UK summers. Gardens with compost-enriched soil can be more resilient to both drought and flooding conditions.

Financial Savings

The average home composter produces about 280 litres of compost annually – enough for five square metres of garden and potentially saving approximately £60 compared to buying commercial compost. Additionally, you’ll likely see reduced water bills due to improved soil water retention.

Getting Started with Composting in the UK

Starting your own compost heap or bin is easier than you might think. Here are some practical tips for beginning composters:

Choose Your Composting Method

• Traditional Compost Heap: If you have garden space, a simple heap in a corner works well
• Compost Bin: Keeps everything contained and tidy, ideal for smaller gardens
• Wormery: Perfect for flat-dwellers or those with minimal outdoor space
• Bokashi Bin: Great for kitchen scraps including dairy and meat that traditional compost heaps can’t handle

What to Compost

• Green Materials (nitrogen-rich): Fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, fresh grass clippings
• Brown Materials (carbon-rich): Dry leaves, cardboard, paper, wood chips, twigs, straw

Composting Tips for Success

• Aim for a mix of approximately 50% green and 50% brown materials
• Turn your compost regularly to introduce oxygen
• Keep the heap slightly moist but not soggy
• Position your compost in a partially shaded area if possible
• Be patient – good compost typically takes 6-12 months to mature

Alternatives If You Can’t Compost

If composting at home isn’t feasible for you, there are still ways to reduce the environmental impact of your food waste:

• Check if your local council offers food waste collection – many UK local authorities now provide this service
• Look for community composting schemes in your neighbourhood
• Consider indoor composting solutions like small countertop composters
• Reduce food waste in the first place through meal planning and proper food storage

Making a Difference Through Composting

So, one way to live more sustainably and immediately decrease your contribution to the climate crisis is through changing where you put your scraps! Could you create a compost bin/heap in your garden, providing you with free nutrient-rich soil and a sustainable means to get rid of your food waste? Or do you live in an area where food or garden waste is collected? These are simple ways to deal with your food waste, but perhaps a reduction in food waste could also be achieved.

Remember these simple tips:

• Freeze food when it is close to going off
• Consider whether vegetables really need to be peeled
• Try meal planning to avoid buying excess food

Remember… the Food Forage app has you covered with meal planning and plenty of sustainable recipes available at the touch of a button!

Join the UK Composting Revolution

With only 3% of UK households currently composting, there’s enormous potential for positive environmental impact if more of us start this simple practice. By composting at home, you’re not just creating nutritious soil for your garden – you’re actively helping combat climate change and reducing the burden on our landfills.

Start small, be consistent, and watch as your food waste transforms into ‘garden gold’ while you do your bit for the planet. Why not begin your composting journey today?