Compost with Willoughby and New Earth Farms!

Willoughby Farms is partnering with New Earth Farms to provide a community compost drop off service. Unlimited drop off is available for $12/month. Click this link or follow the information below to sign up!

What is Composting and Why is it Important?

Composting is a natural process where food scraps or biodegradable materials such as  a banana peel, egg shells or paper products are decomposed into a rich organic fertilizer for the soil. The decomposition process of these materials are disrupted by human systems. When we throw organic material, such as a banana peel, into the trash it is trapped inside a plastic bag and then disposed of in the landfill. Food waste in the landfill decomposes in an anerobic (lack of oxygen) environment, which slows down decomposition and releases methane, a greenhouse gas. Further, the decomposed organic material remains trapped in the landfill, never returning it's nutrients back into the soil for future use.

According to the NRDC, an estimated 40% of all food, 60 million tons, is wasted in the United States annually. In the St. Louis region , it is estimated that we waste approximately 667,000 tons of food. Most of this food ends up in the landfill, and contributes around 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions while also removing vital nutrients from our soil, which is needed to produce more food. 

For more information about food waste and the impact of composting please visit the following resources:

• Illinois Food Scraps and Composting Coalition
• St. Louis Region Food Waste Report