Composting has long been recognized as one of the simplest, most impactful ways to help the climate. But just how effective is it? A new study completed for Napa Recycling and Waste Services (NRWS) found out, and the results surprised and delighted even its most ardent supporters. Here’s a quick summary and food for thought.
A rich history
“Composting is one of the oldest farming practices on earth,” said Carol Glaser, a Napa-based Master Gardener, and member of Napa Climate NOW!. The practice dates back 12,000 years. According to National Geographic (“The Green, Brown, and Beautiful Story of Composting”), stone age farmers combined household food scraps and manure to fertilize their fields. The oldest known written reference was published 2,300 years ago by the Akkadians in Mesopotamia, and composting was widely practiced by the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, as well as in Asia and the Americas. Shakespeare even refers to composting in his play, “Hamlet.” More…
