Teaching Sustainability Larry Tasaday, Nederland’s Sustainability Advisory Board and Zero Waste group member, teaching a resident about compost at the recent Nederland Farmer’s Market. PHOTO BY ERYKA THORLEY[/caption]

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “compost is organic material that can be added to soil to help things grow.” This includes most of the food scraps and yard waste that we collect from our day to day lives. In fact, according to the EPA, over 30% of what we throw away today could be composted. Composting is the number one thing you can do to reduce household waste (helping Nederland achieve its Zero Waste goals) and it also reduces methane production in landfills and ultimately reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

There are three basic ingredients required for composting:

• Greens: food scraps such as vegetable and fruit trimmings, grass clippings, eggshells, coffee grounds, etc.

• Browns: yard waste such as dead leaves and smaller slash from fire mitigation

• Water: important to help break down the organic materials

Each of these items works together to break down the materials and create digestible nutrients ideal for amending gardens and enriching soil. The brown materials supply carbon for this process, greens supply nitrogen and the water supplies the secret sauce (moisture) to help break it all down (EPA).

There are many ways to compost. One way is at the Nederland Transfer Station. All materials must be deposited in a compostable bag and from there it is hauled down to A1 Organics where it is processed at an industrial composting facility. Some people freeze their compost until they have enough to bring it to the transfer station. For a list of items that can be composted refer to the county site (costs are outlined here), Ecocycle’s guide or ask your friendly transfer station attendant. https://www.bouldercounty.org/ environment/ trash/ nederland- transfer-and-recycle/

Another option is to start your own backyard composting bin. This can be tricky with wildlife but there are bear proof bins or perhaps it could live in an inclosed area in your yard. Theoretically if you’re composting the correct materials, this shouldn’t be an issue but it’s important to keep wildlife safe so be sure to do your homework: https://www.ecocycle.org/recycle-compost-reuse/compost

Worms are also an option with vermicompost. This is a great option for mountain homes and people living in apartment buildings with limited outside space. With vermiculture, you can purchase red worms (Eisenia fetida) and they will eat your compost in a bin in your home, garage or on your porch. These worms are alive so it’s important to take good care of them and their poop or worm castings is an unbelievable source of nutrients and even more available to plants than typical compost. Worms can be a tasty snack for wildlife so monitor activity if you have your bin outside but so long as the worms are happy, there shouldn’t be much smell. See more information from Dan Matsch, vermicompost expert at EcoCycle here: https://www.ecocycle.org/files/ pdfs/Compost/Composting_ Apts__ Bear_ Country.pdf

Nederland’s Zero Waste group is actively exploring ways to increase compost capacity in Nederland. If you have questions, comments, suggestions, please reach out to the Nederland Sustainability Advisory Board at SAB@nederlandco.org or attend one of their monthly meetings. SAB meets on the 4th Thursday of the month from 6:45- 8:45 pm and the Zero Waste group meets the 1st Wednesday of the month from 1:00-2:00 pm. You can find more information at https:// townofnederland.colorado.gov/