The truth behind composting

[TylerM4]

Hold on to your hats - this may blow your mind:

Composting is WORSE for the environment vs burning. Composting is better for humans (air quality) in the short term but for the overall health of the generations to come and the planet as a whole, burning is better.

People can't seem to wrap their heads around it. I see the same misinformation spread weekly. Latest example in this letter to the editor: https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/240701/Burn-baby-burn The author of this letter believes that composting vs burning of forestry/fire protection waste would be better for the environment.

The topic is complicated but can be explained once you understand the following facts:
- The same amount of CO2 is released via the composting process as the burning process. Unless the perfect conditions come together (your compost pile is covered by hundreds of tons of earth) at which time the carbon is trapped underground in the form of hydrocarbons (oil or gas).
- Composting produces methane gas (compost offgas typically contains 5% methane, 95% CO2). Methane is a strong greenhouse gas 30x more potent than CO2. That 5% methane gas results in more global warming than all of the CO2 + 50% more. Burning produces no methane gas.

Lots of information out there on this topic if people would stop to look for it. Here's a great study that contains more detailed information and comparing the pros and cons of different approaches for disposal: https://www.macrotecengineering.com/lan ... ineration/

[Jlabute]

I wonder how many people utilize their compost for home heating. Compost is useful and nutritious for the next planting season.

https://www.instructables.com/id/Compost-Heating-System/

[smoky500]

Here is more evidence about composting vs burning

https://www.macrotecengineering.com/lan ... ineration/