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FOOD WASTE

PG. 1GRADES 3-5

ALL ABOUT COMPOSTING

COMPOST IS THE NAME OF A SOIL THAT IS PRODUCED FROM ORGANIC WASTE.

COMPOST IS PRODUCED WHEN ORGANIC WASTE ROTS IN A COMPOST BIN.

SMALL INSECTS ENTER THE COMPOST AND HELP TO BREAK DOWN THE WASTE.

THINGS THAT GROW NATURALLY IN OUR ENVIRONMENT.

WHAT IS COMPOST?

WHAT IS ORGANIC WASTE?

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FOOD WASTE

PG. 2GRADES 3-5

ALL ABOUT COMPOSTING

COMPOSTING IS THE TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANIC MATERIAL (PLANT MATTER) THROUGH DECOMPOSITION INTO A SOIL-LIKE MATERIAL CALLED COMPOST.

INVERTEBRATES (INSECTS AND EARTHWORMS), AND MICROORGANISMS (BACTERIA AND FUNGI) HELP IN THIS TRANSFORMATION.

ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY TO DISPOSE OF FOOD WASTE

SAVES MONEY

LEARNING TOOL

COMPOSTING WHY?

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FOOD WASTE

PG. 3GRADES 3-5

ALL ABOUT COMPOSTING

COMPOSTING IS A WAY OF RECYCLING RAW FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PEELINGS THAT WE WOULD OTHERWISE THROW AWAY.

FOOD WASTE TAKES UP MOST OF THE SPACE IN OUR BINS AND THIS GETS BURIED IN A LANDFILL SITE.

COMPOSTING IS A GOOD WAY OF REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF FOOD WASTE THAT WE SEND TO LANDFILL.

WHEN FOOD WASTE ROTS IN LANDFILL IT PRODUCES A HARMFUL GAS CALLED METHANE, WHICH IS CONTRIBUTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

IS COMPOSTING

A TYPE OF RECYCLING?

WHY IS IT GOOD TO COMPOST?

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FOOD WASTE

PG. 4GRADES 3-5

ALL ABOUT COMPOSTING

RAW FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PEELINGS

TEABAGS

CARDBOARD EGG BOXES

TWIGS AND LEAVES

PAPER (WITHOUT INK OR WRITING)

BREAD

ANY COOKED FOOD

MEAT

DAIRY PRODUCTS

GLOSSY MAGAZINES

METAL & PLASTIC

WEEDS

WHAT GOES IN A COMPOST BIN?

WHAT SHOULD WE KEEP OUT OF THE

COMPOST BIN?

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FOOD WASTE

PG. 5GRADES 3-5

ALL ABOUT COMPOSTING

MIX YOUR GREEN AND BROWN WASTES

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PEELINGS, SCRAPS, TEABAGS, COFFEE GROUNDS,

LEAVES, GRASS CLIPPINGS, OLD FLOWERS BUT NOT WEEDS.

DRY TWIGS AND LEAVES, EGG SHELLS, CARDBOARD, PAPER (SHREDDED OR SCRUNCHED UP), PENCIL SHAVINGS,

TOILET ROLL TUBES, STRAW.

HOW IS COMPOST MADE?

WHAT KINDS OF ANIMALS LIVE IN A COMPOST BIN?

GREENS BROWNS

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FOOD WASTE

PG. 6GRADES 3-5

ALL ABOUT COMPOSTING

EARLY STAGES AS MULCH

KEEPS WEEDS FROM GROWING

HELPS RETAIN MOISTURE

BENEFICIAL MINERALS GO INTO SOIL

PASSIVE

LET SIT

TAKES MONTHS AND MONTHS

LATER STAGES FOR SOIL ENRICHMENT

ENRICHES SOIL

HELPS WITH MOISTURE RETENTION

ACTIVE

TURN OFTEN

KEEP MOIST (WATER 40-60% OF WEIGHT)

2-6 WEEKS (DEPENDING ON INGREDIENTS)

REMOVES/REDUCES NEED FOR CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS THAT LEACH INTO OUR GROUND WATER

USES

2 WAYS TO COMPOST