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Re: composting garden waste vs landfill disposal

An interesting question has been raised "Does composting or consigning green waste to a landfill have a positive or negative benefit to society?"

As I understand the process, the decomposition of of such material without oxygen produces methane gas, a serious problem associated with large commercial landfill sites.

The composting of plant waste in a controlled environment with oxygen produces a product which is considered to be beneficial as a mulch and for incorporation into the soil to improve its nutritional value and physical structure - drainage, moisture retention, and infusion of air into the root zone.

In the tropical rain forest, the natural process of the decomposition of the forest leaf litter recycles the nutrients resulting from leaf loss and help in the absorption of the rain, thus preventing soil erosion. The net result is an ecological balance. In fact we lament the tragic loss of such forests because of the long term effects on climate and loss of irreplaceable gene pools of plant and animal life.

The production of fossil fuels required high pressure to accomplish the conversion of green materials into oil and gas. While this process occurred over many hundreds of thousands of years, it is the combustion of these fuels rapidly for the last century that has contributed to global warming. The eruption of valances and the process of clearing large parcels of land by naturally occurring and set by arsonists, also have contributed to the increase in global warming.

Some of our members may feel strongly and advocate positions supporting or opposing various issues. Some may use research as they would in a debate to persuade their readers. Others my wish to write articles for the op/ed page of their publications.

Even in the midst of passionate prose, can we maintain the quality of professionalism necessary to promote gardening?

Claude Sweet
San Diego, CA



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