Clean Air
In the atmosphere, carbon is found mostly in the form of carbon dioxide and methane, which act like blankets for the Earth. However, methane is 86 times better at trapping heat than carbon dioxide over 20 years. Composting organic materials like yard debris and food scraps prevents them from going into the landfill where the lack of oxygen causes methane to form.
Grow Plants
Plants use the sun’s heat to convert carbon dioxide into sugars and wood. Putting compost on soil gives more nutrients to the plant and so helps it grow faster and bigger. The larger the plant, the more carbon is taken out of the atmosphere—this is called carbon sequestration.
Feed People and Animals
When plants grow bigger, more food is produced. People and animals digest the sugars in plants and exhale carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Although we must decrease carbon emissions and increase carbon sequestration to slow climate change, some carbon dioxide is necessary for plants to grow.
Compost for Healthy Soils
In addition to sequestering carbon and providing more nutrients to plants, compost increases aeration, water holding capacity, and biodiversity in the soil. This decreases the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The carbon that is not converted into sugar or wood is stored in the soil.