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Why we compost

April 05, 2018

Is that salsa still in the fridge? What do you do with those leftover orange peels or egg shells?

Unfortunately, most of us waste much more food than we realize. Food scraps are the number one material we throw away. Due to over-portioning, under-eating or tossing the inedible parts of produce, 40% of what our farmers grow is is sent to the landfill.

“Doesn’t food just break down once it’s in the landfill?”

Not exactly. Because the food is trapped by so much other garbage, it simply turns into greenhouse gas, which in turn only increases the global temperature. Composting is the better answer. Composting is beneficial not only for the longevity of our planet, but for our farmers and their soil and the overall economy.

 

WHY COMPOST?

By choosing to compost, you’re helping enrich the soil with vital nutrients and diminishing plant diseases and pests. Just 14 lbs of compost can avoid releasing 4 lbs of methane gas at the landfill, which is enough to offset 153 miles driven by car. Composting also sustains more jobs than other waste handling options such as landfilling and incineration. By supporting the composting industry, you are contributing to new green enterprises across the nation.

 

At Sifted, we are striving to leave the smallest carbon footprint possible. After lunch, your Sifted hosts compost the food scraps that we cannot donate. In doing so, we’re supporting local green initiatives and your city’s food ecosystem.

 

COMPOST AT HOME:

Want to compost at home? It’s much easier than you think! We’ve provided a few resources below for composting at home in each of our cities:

 

ATLANTA:

AUSTIN:

 

NASHVILLE:

DENVER

SEATTLE

PHOENIX