Beginner's Guide to Composting | One Small Step | NowThis

What is compost? How does composting work? Lucy Biggers is here to answer all your questions to show you what happens to our food waste - welcome to Composting 101.
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According to the EPA, food accounts for 20% of what Americans throw away everyday. Food in landfills cause 15% of Methane Gases in the U.S. and a major cause of climate change. So what can we do about this? Lucy Biggers is on a mission to find out how her old food gets turned into compost.
#Compost #Composting #Food #OneSmallStep
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What happens to everything we use after we throw it away? How does our trash impact the environment and contribute to things like pollution and climate change? From plastics and recycling to food waste and composting - we're breaking down the issue of waste and sustainability piece by piece to answer one of the most important questions facing the world today: How do we save our planet?
From exploring the latest tech and science innovations shaping our future, to living sustainably and protecting our planet from climate change - this is NowThis Future!
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[@flyingfire908]

Germany has had this for such a long time i can’t remember when we didn’t have it. Either you have your own compost in your garden or you have a normal bin that gets collected by the city and then composted in a big scale.

[@masdelasmelias]

And I am sure you also have frut and vegetables stickers and for sure most made of plastic or foil, probably a European directive

[@flyingfire908]

masdelas melias Of course we also have stupid packaging that nobody actually needs nor wants, but we don’t need to have our own organizations to deal with organic waste, we are encouraged to simply put it in the right trash to get it composted.

[@priscillajimenez27]

I wanna move to Europe

[@saiy1675]

This girl needs more subscribers...please spread this...love from india

[@lucylyonsbiggers]

thank you!

[@RadioImmunoAssay2]

I kept a worm composting system under my kitchen sink for at least a year and it really cut down on the odor created by food waste rotting in the trash can😊

[@shanmugaj]

GisForGangsta that's awesome idea. How did you do it? Can you explain the method please...

[@professional_silent_trumpe1540]

That's awesome

[@monikarvind]

if it doesn't create bad odor in the house?

[@lucylyonsbiggers]

I need to try a worm composting system!

[@raingirlshines]

Dont the worms get everywhere? 😅

[@AJsGreenTopics]

Glad to see that people are helping the cause.

[@cristianacevedo178]

Right. Sometimes it can feel lonely.

[@someguy2135]

I do composting. It does help the cause of fighting climate change. I also live a vegan lifestyle. Going vegan is the single most effective way for each of us to minimize our environmental footprint. "According to the most comprehensive analysis of farming’s impact on the planet, plant-based food is most effective at combatting climate change. Oxford University researcher Joseph Poore, who led the study, said adopting a vegan diet is “the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth.” “A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth, not just greenhouse gases, but global acidification, eutrophication, land use and water use.”. -Joseph Poore, Environmental Science Researcher, University of Oxford. Links at my channel under "About."

[@rifleshooterchannel208]

Global warming is fake.

[@llt8101]

I used to live in a city where they collected your compost (which did include meat, cheese and processed scraps as well) weekly. Then they took it and processed into fuel to run the pick-up vehicles.

[@astrideatscaca]

drop the city name I'm moving

[@exhaustedsprout1734]

We've been doing the enhanced version of this in Finland since long before my birth, biological waste (anything from plants to meat and dairy) is collected in the same way as regular waste and all that the average person has to do is keep to separate bins. Currently there's also a legal requirement for apartment buildings to have the bins along with recycling stations for paper, cardboard, metal, glass and plastic, available and properly maintained

[@ferreterialuciopraderavall7177]

I don’t understand why 17 persons don’t like this amazing video. If this is the secret of the good life. We need open the eyes. Good work greetings in from Colombia

[@Ramiz422]

We don't have system like this in my city. The garbage vehicle just collect all the thrash and they don't compost it so i make my own comost at home. The most difficult part was to teach my family to separate the dry and wet waste so i can use it. First they thought I'm crazy but when they saw the finished compost and it's effects in the garden they just fell in love with it.

[@franciso-y3241]

thanks. This is critical help towards plant life and a sustainable environment.

[@karenadams8439]

I compost using trash cans with holes drilled into them. Working on my 2nd can!

[@areliperez3767]

Really! How did you made it?

[@someguy2135]

The holes are important! I tried it without the holes, and got a smelly mess! I even made the mistake of adding water, which made the problem worse. The top part worked ok, but when I tried to empty it, I realized my mistake.

[@jaysonvilleza3901]

Our composting process here in our city in the Philippines uses anaerobic process so the compost/soil enhancer is ready within a month. But yours is great as you have 3.3 million residents participating in the program.

[@GeeaRCee]

Jayson Villeza Nice. Talaga? Saang City? This idea is amazing to me. Anong method kaya ang gamit nila?

[@2anh06]

This video was so helpful! I compost in NYC too. Every Wednesday I drop off my fruits/veggies scraps at the farmers market. I use Trader Joe’s product bags to carry all of my scraps because they are compostable. It’s so nice to see the process of how it becomes food for plants!

[@NicholasLittlejohn]

Ask your city to make it the law for condos and apartments to have access to compost! 🌱 It's taken a year of calls and emails here in Austin and we can't get it due to our slumlords.

[@samnikole1643]

Then move

[@shayphillips8632]

@@samnikole1643 not that easy is it? No it isn't. People arent made of money

[@davidleal9877]

It’s very hard for many people to compost as more people are moving to cities were it is significantly harder to compost this material. Also the land to compost these scraps is more expensive especially in cities where these flatter areas are in higher demand for more development. That being said it’s still important to compost especially for families in the suburbs were they can teach their kids new skills. Just like in my household. We compost everything from shredded papers to expired produce. It works out as we help the earth and save money on fertilizer for our garden.

[@brunorsteyer]

It don´t need to be harder on big cities or on places with tiny spaces. Working with wormfarms on each apartment is very easy and just need 10 liters bins per person. And is more expensive to manage scraps than to compost in your own house :) For example, in my city Porto Alegre, Brazil, we spend $ 60 millions every year with organic waste management.

[@priscillajimenez27]

Maybe like gardens or green houses, they can have compost sites on top of skyscrapers or in buildings with windows.

[@AasthaHingar]

I absolutely appreciate the idea the of composting and I would love to compost my own food as well but I am scared of worms so I don't think I can do that.

[@silverlinning5375]

Don’t worry! There are many methods to compost in your house that don’t involve worms or backfields. Look up Bokashi!

[@AasthaHingar]

@@silverlinning5375 is that so? I had no idea. Thank you

[@Jjmae98]

You don't have to have worms worms just help the process move a little faster. I have both methods worms inside regular outside

[@mariel1766]

Composting doesn't involve worms, which is what they talked about in the video. Vermicomposting involves worms, the difference between the two is speed, composting takes 4-6 months and vermicomposting 2-4 months depending on conditions and need less space. Try composting or bokashi (anaerobic decomposition instead of aerobic), neither involve worms. If you try composting just make sure it has enough oxygen and it is the right mix of browns and greens.

[@bethhubbs9937]

Yeah, those sneaky worms will get you every time. ~ ~ ~ ~

[@joannesantos4688]

i live in a suburban area in my country. i do my composting in an old rice sack. we used to have a tree in our back area and i used the fallen, dry, browning leaves for carbon, along with some used paper bags. most of our kitchen scrap, except for meat scraps and thise with oil, goes into the compost sack. since its semi-porous, fluid drains oit naturally. to prevent material from drying out, i placed it in a cool, shaded area and fold and clip the top. i also made sure to add some moisture now and then. my firat attempt took about four months to fully breakdown. i alao picked off any earthworms i found nearby and plopped them inside 😊. the end product was a beautiful, dark material that smelled so earthy. it was so cool to think that a few months ago this was food scraps and dried leaves. as of now, our tree was cut down and i only have used paper bags for carbon. let’s see if it will work as well and how long it will take for these materials to break down.

[@Performak_YT]

I live in a building and I have a composting system in my balcony, it helps me reduce a lot of the trash I throw away each day, like a 50% of it!

[@JJ-dn2hi]

Kindly tell us how to do it.

[@Braedenfish]

Great vid! So many people garden.....and BUY compost each spring when it is very easy to make your own.Every fall we gather leaves horse manure food waste and place in garden beds for next Springs flower planting. Plus since 30 miles south of DC in country ......when city fam visit they bring frozen food waste and in Summer they pick free flower💐🌷🌷🌷

[@lucylyonsbiggers]

buying compost when you can use your own is the definition of insanity!

[@el7473]

Yes, I have a worm compost bin at my house so that when I have food scraps left over, I can feed it to the worms and then use what they have excreted as fertilizer for my plants and soil.

[@AshleyC0787]

Love this! I’m glad I came across this video, after I watched it, I googled a compost drop off in my city & I think I’ll start using it!

[@eco-aslfitness-asl8101]

Bravo!! It is a very hard thing to do to take one small step like that but every small steps add up!

[@christophervasquez6878]

I use a Joraform Tumbler compost bin. It allows me to compost throughout the winter and works well in an urban backyard setting. It's pricey, but has made composting easier and less time consuming.

[@myfavsam]

A big goal of mine is to start composting and recycling. I remember learning about this in grade school, but I never seen anyone practice this and I didn’t do this at home/growing up. Such a beautiful way to help our planet! 🌏🌱

[@carlosbarillas5047]

Been composting for the last 5 years, because of your video, I've just found out a problem I've been having and how to fix it: add the browns, thanks 👌🏻

[@seeksustainablejapan]

This is awesome- I’ve never heard of non-government groups collecting scraps for a business- how fantastic! There is very little composting that goes on in Japan outside of the zero-waste town of Kamikatsu where it’s compulsory to all residents (great!) I compost our kitchen waste & it’s reduced our garbage by 50% so imagine if everyone did it! Thanks for sharing!

[@GurumustukSingh]

I live in New Mexico where it is dry and often need to water the compost pile to have enough moisture for it to breakdown. If you live in dry climate you may need to do the same. I keep it fenced in too since rodents like skunks can frequent if not. Biggest challenge for me is turning the compost pile by hand frequent enough. It’s ok when small pile. But as it grows much more of a job.

[@anahidkassabian4471]

I ended up buying a couple of tumblers. Still takes strength, but it’s easier than doing it with a pitchfork!

[@priscillajimenez27]

Maybe use a pitch fork

[@kayleighandersen7331]

I love this video! I’m starting to compost and this was so inspiring! Thank you!

[@linaangela7187]

I m from Indonesia n i compost my leftover food , fruit skin, tea bag etc. I have plan to have chicken so they can eat my leftover food....hopefully it can happen soon

[@NicholasLittlejohn]

Chickens are great for eggs, don't eat unhealthy meat if you can help it! 🐔

[@cami2055]

I love your videos. Keep doing good in the world. ONE STEP AT A TIME!!!

[@henny_p]

This is really amazing 😍❤️. .I think this is the best thing ever and everyone should contribute and help to make compost and give pay back to earth 🌍❤️ btw I'm doing composting at home✌️

[@selenanieto8152]

I Have always composted my kitchen scraps and leaves. I love your videos! I work at a school for autistic children and have started a plastic film recycling program through Trex. I love this program because they use 95% recycled materials in there decking.

[@adagioborntrager4456]

If CR&R is your waste management system, you can put organic food waste in their green bins! Double check in your area, most cases are true! This makes composting SUPER easy. Simply collect this waste in a bin kept in the freezer and dispose in green bins when full.

[@briancarlosgreen]

My local composting place is only open during normal work hours on select Fridays during the year. It sucks because I can never use it

[@NicholasLittlejohn]

Ask your city leaders to do better and find a local plot to put your compostables!

[@v.leewalker8640]

I put my scraps in the backyard for the wild animals!

[@bramasca]

Rats

[@taralorna1981]

Oh wow! That's scary.

[@helenalaney]

@@taralorna1981 why

[@csphoto1102]

Have you ever heard of anaerobic digestion? It's a step up from composting that might make an interesting video

[@anahidkassabian4471]

I just started using a Bokashi bin, and I’m very excited about it. Definitely worth a video!

[@lucylyonsbiggers]

I need to look into it more!

[@Ramiz422]

It creates methane which is 30 time more potent greenhouse gas. If you could collect it and burn it as a fuel that might help.

[@harshavardhanreddy1173]

Truly you're doing an amazing job , this channel needs more views at rapid pace , because we don't have enough time . Thanks for ur work .

[@stebarg]

Have you guys considered using biochar and making Terra Preta out of it?

[@lucylyonsbiggers]

I need to learn more about biochar!

[@lyndaschroeder8117]

Wow and wow!!! Thank you soooo much.!!!! Gotta get you everywhere...even if you have to fly, instead of sail! These are not "small" steps! THEY ARE HUGE! Particularly. Worldwide. Organic farmer/Gardner. Go Girl!!!!

[@QueenLuvrxoxo]

Great video- but just a side note - many cities across the U.S. are not apartment-only lol. We have backyards in cities outside of NYC. Just an FYI.

[@lyndaschroeder8117]

Thank you SOOO much Lucy. I would also like to see our waste composted and available to farmers who would change to organic farming. We need to persuade farmers to change. They can, but may lose a bit of profit at first, but will catch up when humus increases.

[@elpas.6974]

I'm glad I've been watching so many videos on composting, because I didn't understand the scientific base that explains why meats need a different method for composting, for example. It's been a very exciting whole year the varied information pieces came into my view and it starts to make sense how best to do this in my own town.

[@ricardocintron3954]

Amazing video !! Thanks for educating me !

[@Marie-yx5ie]

Hi yes I do, the liquid that come from the compost is liquid gold so so nutritional for the plants you need to dilute it tho some say one part liquid gold 😉 to 10 parts water or 20parts water. Play around with it and see what works for.. I take the time to cut my scraps into small pieces because it composites much quicker then.. Its time consuming but worth and also I am looking my family and the planet too.. Thank you so much for all your videos on terracycle. I send boxes of soft plastics to them all the time and I really needed to know what they did with them. Great work girl all the way from Ireland 🍀👍😉💕💕

[@lyndaschroeder8117]

Wonderful, Lucy!!!!! Thank you so much!!!

[@waffaelsayed3964]

Your video help me a lot with work.

[@buckeyedav1]

Thank you for the tip on using saw dust in the compost I just went to my local lumber yard and got a huge bag 5 feet tall and at least 60 inches wide or more for $10.00. Yay!! Its too much for me will be sharing with my neighbors. It was the only size they had. Anna In Ohio.

[@kindakalin]

Cool

[@diegaah]

She’s fantastic! Miss NYC

[@Ka-ws5qj]

We need this in every city!!!

[@jettshow]

Get compose letter dog waste bags if you have a curbside program

[@ihuboo6244]

This channel needs to be seen by billions

[@Sal84UK]

That's amazing - thank you for sharing!

[@OCDMINECRAFTER1]

I'm sick and I've been watching all your videos in my bed attempting to sleep. Now I have all this information lol😂 Edit : great content👌🏼

[@raheelnath5869]

Thank you for helping me and many people fight against climate change I really love the work you do Thanks alot

[@veronicabyrd3699]

Yes I love to compost. I am proud to make something useful and knowing that I am doing something useful for my environment.

[@margaritaq87]

New Jersey need this.

[@mezmos5866]

I do compost n im trying todo more by getting it from restaurants n shops.wish me luck

[@lizhopkins6926]

I love composting 🌿❤️

[@JRR31984]

Very GOOD. The way they go around collecting compost around the homes while they collect regular trash is a good thing, especially for the environment. If we don't compost at home, at least we should do this for the cities to mainly do it.

[@karld1791]

Keep a pile of loose soil in a ring around a tree and bury kitchen scraps in a different part of the ring pile every few days. By the time I work around the ring back to the beginning the first scraps are composted.

[@soccerlegend9780]

Wait can you explain how please? I want to start doing that

[@karld1791]

@@soccerlegend9780 I started with some topsoil mounded up in a ring around a tree maybe 8-12 inches deep. Each time I take compost out I dig a channel through the ring of soil and bury the compost. I bury compost in a new spot each time working my way around the tree. You could leave a marker to keep track of the last spot. At least in summer by the time I get back to the beginning the old compost is degraded.

[@VivianL-wm6gq]

I used to freeze my compost too, but found a better system is lining one of those OXO pop-up bin (used to store dry grains) with BioBags (made from corn) for easier cleaning when dumping content into apartment’s community compost bin, and storing it under the sink. Seriously, no smell whatsoever. Don’t buy those “compost bins” that sit on your counter, the smell alone in a small apartment will turn you off from composting! 😇

[@yvenaleonce-renaud695]

Garden in the 🌎

[@jane29jeng]

Composting is still very underrated imo. It’s good that US has a good system and people are more aware. But it’s not like this for the rest of the world. I hope this will become a ‘cool thing’ very soon because climate change is very serious. Flooding is very serious. I myself have composted 2 times, i should get back to it again.

[@richards5110]

unfortunately much of the US also still has a very poor composting system. Lucy is lucky to live in NYC where they have a very good setup. We still need it to become a 'cool thing' here too!

[@k.ganesanganesan6825]

Aerobic composting is safe.we have to learn more.

[@SomebodysVincent]

You can also make broth from leftover onions, carrots, fennel, meat bones and scraps etc. Then you can compost the leftovers and get 3 times as much value from your food - cooking, making broth and composting.

[@Lakarlasilva]

I was watching this video because at school we are learning about composting😊

[@tips_hidup]

The narrator's voice is very good to listen 😍

[@bikelanez7376]

Great video thank you for sharing this great information

[@filippyknow]

So where do the compost go afterwards?

[@AdenAKAKayden_theprogamer]

i love this

[@nal004]

We should treat composting similar to waste and recycling. Every week we put our garbage and recycling on the side of the road and the city collects it. What if we created a department to collect bins of compost from every neighborhood, say, twice a month.

[@VivianL-wm6gq]

One acre, that’s impressive. In Seattle, we use the company Recology that can compost nearly everything including meats and diary because their facility can handle it.

[@mariarodriquez3887]

What an incredible content !! Thx

[@miracleshappen4483]

I n Europe, food scraps from the citizens of a city, regularly get collected twice a week. We call it differentiated trash collection. There are huge containers for glass bottles and jars, paper and cardboard and in Germany many more for batteries and other types of metal. You should go to Europe and have a look, I'm from Italy where the system is very good, they now have drinking water dispensers in many areas where you can refill your glass water bottles for a ridiculous price. I think you should make a proper documentary about different countries in Europe and then see if the same system could be applied to the US. However, in my view, this is like a tiny drop in the disaster we have created so the problem should be fixed from the source. I know there are shops in the US, probably California, where you buy your food in bulk with no packaging, you have to bring your own containers. Let's take responsibility for the problems we have created and start being part of the solution. 💖🌞🤗

[@maevemcd4692]

This video was quite surprising to me. I live in Ireland and we have a system whereby we empty our food scraps into a brown bin that our local recycling and food waste companies collect for a fee. I though that was the norm everywhere

[@soumyapawar8125]

Wait where do they get sawdust from..hope it's waste

[@NicholasLittlejohn]

Likely from trimming trees or nontoxic woodworking.

[@regalswim]

If you bury your kitchen scraps, most of them will decompose in a month. This saves all the resources used to transport and process compost in compost programs.

[@kissanektajindabadandfuckf7006]

Fantastic ....

[@shrutigoel2067]

New subscriber!! I lovee your videos. Please keep doing it. ❤

[@jourdyn414]

I'm going to see if my city offers this!

[@rimsonlobo6344]

Ur vedios are best ur doing an awesome work please make a vedio on pollution caused due to animal agriculture and live stocks (cowspiracy) which is a bigger issue then plastic cowspiracy is a Major reason for climate change

[@JRR31984]

I plan on it!

[@danielnigusse8044]

OMG i love her voice

[@miki302zz]

I hope Los Angeles start to collect public compost bin like New York.

[@pipersecretp3]

So, if I cook vegetables and fruits without oils (i.e. if I boil them), are they still compostable since they were "prepared" (cooked) or are they still compostable as vegetarian food?

[@richards5110]

boiled vegetables are definitely compostable. Most food cooked in oil (especially vegetable oil) is too; it's just people being a little cautious on what they add imo

[@kratitak3375]

Loving your content keep going

[@missdimple29]

what if you just put the food scraps directly on soil?

[@sweetvuvuzela4634]

missdimple29 it breaks down too

[@highstandards6226]

Why aren't the cities adding a simple pipe for methane release? If smart, they'll capture and sell/use the valuable gas for things like...heating houses! Many other cities do, why not the largest of the free world?

[@lyndamorales559]

You can save your veggie good scraps in the freezer and when you get enough you can make veggie broth and freeze that for soup 👍🏼

[@lyndaschroeder8117]

Gooooooooooo Lucy. Thannnnk you sooo much!!!

[@priscillajimenez27]

How often do you put compost on your plants or does it depend on the size and species?

[@bestbirdbuds6746]

Plu stickers are completely edible as long as you wash the fruit that it's on.

[@luchoportuano2829]

I have a great tip! Do you want to speed up the process of composting?? Do VERMI-COMPOST, and let the earth worms do most of the job. The little guys will help you by: speeding the whole process (really much faster); making a better product (worm castings have additional properties and benefits); the process becomes less "hands on" (like...you don't have to turn the compost to give it oxygen, the worms make all the job with their tunnels); less smell (or no smell at all!). And many many more. Try it !

[@hrcutz]

Very cool!

[@priscillajimenez27]

What's the difference between compost and fertilizer? Can compost completely replace fertilizer?

[@Community56sunshine]

For godsakes, I wish Michigan had this!!!

[@dafyddrhobert2414]

Be careful which tea bags are sent for compost as many have plastic in the bag material which contaminates the resulting compost.

[@mushudragon8548]

Here in Mexico what we do is we put all leftovers in a bucket and when your bucket is full you give it to your local framer and they will feed it to their animals

[@k.w.1459]

Most teabags DO have some plastic that isn’t degradable so just best to buy loose tea leaves

[@TidyTardigradeLifestyle]

when I heard her saying tea bags in the compost, but most tea bags are made out of some form of plastic mesh. Make sure your tea bags are compostable!!