Environmental Outrage: Office Composting

My journey with indoor composting began when I read and fell in LOVE with Cradle to Cradle by McDonough & Braungart. I offer up as one of my core personal beliefs that Cradle to Cradle should be #1 on a list of required reading for the whole human race.*

In brief, McDonough & Braungart theorize that the earth functioned without environmental problems for eons because before the arrival of modern man there was no such thing as waste. The whole planet was a biological system in which one organism’s waste, such as the fallen petals of a cherry tree, became food for other organisms. (The petals degrade naturally and return the nutrients to the soil.) When modern man came on the scene, “waste” was created. Waste includes both natural things disposed of in such a way that the nutrients do not properly re-enter the system (ex. paper waste or food going to landfills), as well as items that are artificial and cannot ever re-enter the biological system (ex. plastics or items made with toxic heavy metals). If humanity could re-evaluate their use of resources so that our own “waste” can be returned to the biological system, or become fuel for other processes, then many of our major environmental problems could be solved.

McDonough and Braungart have a green design firm and try their absolute best to practice what they preach. In the firm’s summer 2007 newsletter, they informed the world that their studio in Charlottesville was adopting indoor vermiculture, or composting using worms. They keep their composter in a closet, where one pound of worms consume about ½ pound of food scraps and office paper daily! As the worm colony matures, more worms will be born, and their ability to consume waste will increase. Answering what I would consider the most important question, they say there is no smell associated with the composter, and other than making sure the worms get fed with our “trash” these helpful pets do not require any attention. The food and paper scraps are turned into rich, nutrient-laden soil which can be brought home by the employees for gardening. Let me just say: I think this is the most AWESOME, EASY, and UNIQUE way to green an office I have ever heard of! One of my new personal goals is to spread the word about indoor composting, and to get as many places as I can to adopt this practice.

I began first by recommending indoor composting (vermiculture) to a small business opening up in Connecticut. They were not impressed. In theory, they thought it was a good idea, but did not want to spend the time ordering bins and worms, especially because they expected to move to a new space in a few months. And of course there was the weird factor. I am still hopeful that they will adopt in-office composting once they are settled in their new space, and plan to follow up with them after the move.

A few weeks later composting came up in conversation at my office (an environmental non-profit that shall remain nameless). I was so excited! I thought this was the perfect opportunity! And yet … ENVIRONMENTAL OUTRAGE! Despite the fact that indoor composting has been around for over 15 years, and that I recommended an affordable unit for indoor composting without worms, I was told that indoor composting would “attract vermin.” Used correctly, the proper indoor or outdoor composting unit will not! Disposing of food in a sealed, airtight box is definitely less susceptible to vermin than throwing it out in our communal office kitchen, where it will sit in an open trash can until someone deigns to take out the trash! I cannot put into words the frustration that this has caused me! Here, working for an organization whose mission is to protect the environment, in an office that is trying to be “greener,” indoor composting has been vetoed by someone who knows nothing about it! (And apparently did not even read the proposal, which discussed all these issues!) Of course, this is just one example a larger problem. Our society is ignorant and/or uncomfortable when it comes to the creative and extremely effective ways scientists and everyday people have devised to decrease the impact we all have on the planet.

I will not yield in my quest to get the word out about the possibilities for and advantages of indoor composting, in both offices and houses. If you would like to learn how to begin, please check out the following websites:
http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/vermicompost107.shtml;
http://www.composters.com/; http://www.thewormfarm.net/; http://www.wormwoman.com/



*William Kennedy from the New York Times said, "One Hundred Years of Solitude is the first piece of literature since the Book of Genesis that should be required reading for the entire human race.” While both Genesis and Solitude are significant, I stand by my belief that everyone on the planet should read Cradle to Cradle first and foremost, and possibly Bill McKibben’s Maybe One second.