Composting Options

More and more people are trying to find ways to reduce their household waste. We all want to leave a smaller carbon footprint, and one of the easiest things we can do is compost.

The most common method is to have a compost bin outside your home or apartment building. If you are lucky enough to have the space for one, it can also be the simplest way of turning your orange peels and egg shells into soil. The downside to this method is that in an urban setting, it may attract unwanted rodents and takes up valuable space.

There are other options and they vary from “icky” to philanthropic. Worms are not generally something people like to have in their apartment, but it’s the new craze... For a fairly small cost, everyone can have “designer worms” under their sink or in a utility closet. The worms eat the waste and produce rich soil that can be used in any type of garden.

If the idea of worms in your building doesn’t work for you, there are other options. Several private companies in large areas provide composting services. You just fill up the bin, and they take it away! The cost over time definitely adds up, but you could save that money in reduced garbage fees. A way to simplify this is to find out if your municipality has a program, as they don’t always advertise this. If not, try to get on some type of composting program by writing a letter to a private company, the person in your municipality or regional district who deals with waste management, or a sympathetic elected official.

The most cost effective solution is donation. Within most communities (especially larger ones) there are people who call themselves “urban gardeners.” These guerrilla green thumbs are always looking for cheap ways to obtain good soil. Placing an ad on Craigslist or in your local newspaper for free compost might be your way of ridding yourself of those unwanted apple cores and coffee grounds.

Generally you would have to deliver the compost directly to the garden, but a small amount of travelling could bear the fruits of sustainable urban living.

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Hunter Boucher

"Green" Apartment Living

Living an apartment does not always lend itself to a green lifestyle. Rules and regulation with large buildings often prevent people from making those decisions that might be beneficial to the environment, but landlords can do their part and make life a little bit easier without much strain on themselves and the building:

1. Many people like to bike to work, but most don’t have a place to store their bicycle. Bringing bikes into apartment units can track in dirt and take up space, and most buildings don’t want bikes left in the hallway or in patio areas. A simple solution is to have a designated bicycle storage area on the main floor or outside. Bikes don’t take up a lot of space and tenants are still responsible for the security of their own bike.

2. Most apartment buildings have at least one garbage can in the entry common area, but few make the effort to put in a recycling bin as well. If there is a recycling bin at the entrance to your building, it will hopefully encourage your tenants to be "green" as well as reduce the amount of garbage you have to deal with.

3. The Cancer Society, Saint Vincent De Paul and Big Brother Big Sister all pick up donations of clothes and household goods, making it simple to have your clothes re- used by people less fortunate. Living in an large building puts a bit of a "kink" in the system as bags of clothing in a common area will become unsightly. A way to solve this problem and promote donations is to designate one day every couple of months that is designated as a "donation day" for a specific cause.

4. Many apartment buildings don't have space for a standard composter, but that doesn't mean your tenants can't take part! The first option for composting in small units is called vermi composting, and yes - it is a bin of worms! This is becoming more and more popular as the bins don't take up much space and it is a very fast way to turn your organic waste into rich soil. The second option is simple; you need a bucket, soil and oxygen... All you will need to do is put two or three tablespoons of rich, moist soil into your bucket, and you are ready to compost! If you choose to compost only natural waste (vegetables, fruit and coffee and tea grinds), simply mix the contents of the bucket (gently) and you will eventually end up with a scent-free compost under your sink.

For more tips and ideas, watch for April/May's "Green" Top Storey.

-- Staff and AdviserToTheAdvisers