Composting and recycling both have their benefits to the environment. However, when deciding between which one has the greater benefit for the environment, composting is a better resource.
Composting is the process of recycling organic materials to a substance that will be beneficial for soil and plants. These organic materials can be the leftover vegetable or fruit scraps that weren’t used in cooking. Composting involves placing the organic material in layers, adding oxygen and maintaining a damp environment for bacteria to grow. The moist environment then allows for bacteria and fungi to consume the waste as well as generate heat that will help break down the materials. The result is a rich soil that is free of chemical fertilizer.
Recycling also has limited effects. As papers and plastic get recycled and broken down into a reusable material, it has a certain amount of times that it can be recycled before falling apart. Meanwhile, composting turns waste into a high value soil that can be used many times.
While both recycling and composting involve breaking down scraps and reusing them, the process of composting has less requirements than recycling. Unlike recycling, composting is a natural process that can be easily done at home. Recycling involves collecting paper and plastics, which then has to be transported to a transfer station which uses machinery to sort and break down the materials. Additionally, recycling paper and plastics requires large amounts of electricity and water for transport to a plant before it gets reused. However, the process of composting allows for water to be conserved for longer periods of time.
By requiring less transport, composting also limits the amount of greenhouse gases produced by decomposing naturally. When organic materials are thrown away and sent to a landfill instead of being composted, waste is decomposed without access to oxygen, releasing a harmful greenhouse gas called methane.
Overall, composting has a greater beneficial impact on the environment than recycling as it requires less energy, transport, and area to be done. While recycling has a large benefit for the environment by getting rid of plastic materials, composting is more beneficial for organic material.
