The Composting Council Research & Education Foundation releases new publication

Exploring the topic of how to manage food scraps, yard trimmings and other organic materials and the impact it can have on climate change, the Composting Council Research & Education Foundation (CCREF) has released "The Compost & Climate Connection." The new publication, a companion to "The Soil & Water Connection," is designed to provide an explanation of how "wastes" can be looked at as resources in the fight against climate change.

Written by Dr. Sally Brown, Dr. Britt Faucette and Katie Kutz, and edited by other CCREF trustees and staff, the publication refers to research addressing why and how taking organic material out of landfills and using it instead to enrich soil resources as a way to sequester carbon also helps make soils more resilient to climate change. With four-color photos, charts and illustrations, "The Compost and Climate Connection" is targeted toward those working in the compost manufacturing industry, backyard composters, teachers and educators or "anyone looking for the most up-to-date resources on this vitally important subject," says CCREF.

The Compost & Climate Connection is available for sale on the CCREF website: compostfoundation.org/store. Part of the publication also is available to read digitally on the CCREF website.

Here’s a brief excerpt from the publication:

"Every day we ‘waste’ tons of food scraps, yard trimmings, and other organic (carbon based) materials. How we manage these materials can have a significant impact on climate change. Diverting them from landfills reduces the amount of methane that is released to the atmosphere. Composting them to produce stable soil products provides for healthier soils that not only store more carbon (another way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions), it makes our soils more productive and more resilient to the changes that are already occurring. Recognizing and taking advantage of the resources in our ‘waste’ is a tool that can be used by individuals, communities, and municipalities as a means to both combat climate change and strengthen our society."

More information on the new publication or CCREF can be obtained by contacting Beth Simone, development officer, bethsimone@compostfoundation.org or at 301-897-2715 ext. 5.