Yes/No: Should Californians be obligated to compost?

Yes.

As of Jan. 1, 2022, the Senate Bill 1383 in California–that was approved by the Office of Administrative Law–was enacted. California Senate Bill 1383 is a bill that sets goals to reduce disposal of organic waste in landfills, mainly including edible food parts. By doing that, this law requires that homeowners in California separate their trash to compost, just as they would recycle. 

Composting is a natural process that uses recycled organic matter that ranges from food scraps, animal excrement, food soiled cardboard, shredded newspapers, leaves and more. When decomposed after time, the nutrients from these natural matters can further enrich soil and plants all around the world. This benefits plant growth, soil density and discourages diseases and pests that may destroy the plant altogether. 

The origin of repurposing organic material for the benefit of the earth’s soil dates back all the way to the Stone Age. It was used in multiple countries B.C.E., according to an article called “The Green, Brown, and Beautiful Story of Compost”, written by Aaron Sidder of National Geographic. Archaeological evidence shows that many societies like the British Isles Scots, Akkadians in Mesopotamia, Mediterranean farmers in Greece and Italy and Chinese farmers all used composting practices to better fertilize their crops and not waste food. This shows how composting has been around for many years and is practiced all around the world.

Other than enriching soil and the food eaten daily, composting also reduces greenhouse gas emissions. According to the webpage “Composting Food Waste: Keeping a Good Thing Going” by the Environmental Protection Agency, composting lowers greenhouse gases by improving carbon sequestration, which is the process of storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. Decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere decreases the warming of the planet that causes climate change. 

According to NASA’s “Vital Signs of the Plant: Carbon Dioxide”, in the last 200 years, humans have increased the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere by 50%. This is dangerous considering carbon dioxides impacts on the environment and also people. The United States Department of Agriculture explains that carbon dioxide (CO2) can be minimally dangerous at small scales. But after an extended amount of time inhaling it, or increases in the amount in the atmosphere, it can include some dangerous effects like drowsiness, rapid breathing, increased blood pressure or even death. 

Composting not only can be thrown in the green bin and off to a composting site, but it can also be used to directly benefit the garden you may have right in your backyard. According to Eco-cycle’s—which is a nonprofit recycling organization and leaders of the Zero Waste Movement—-article “How to Compost in Your Backyard”, the simple six step process of composting is to get a bin, mix browns and greens, chop the waste, keep the compost moist, mix it up and collect and disperse compost into the soil around the plants for better growth. Instead of only recycling your compost and sending it off to composting sites, compost can be used  for the better of one’s plants, home and health.

Since the requirement of composting is now in effect, this means that California residents who do not already have a green bin or composting supplies, may be affected with the cost payment for these products. This may come as another setback and disinterest in composting, but the cost for these materials is in a reasonable cost range that can also last a long time. 

On Amazon, composting trash bags–that can also be composted–cost from a range of $10-$20, and can last throughout the year. A composting bin that can be used for multiple years–like any other trash bin—can cost $15 to $25. Even though this process may be tedious and somewhat costly, it would not differ drastically from the systems that Americans have made in their homes for recycling.

With having this law enacted in California, it can set an example for many other states across America and show how composting benefits our environment. Composting leads us to a healthier world for us and our upcoming generations. The only way this is going to work is if everyone pitches in to these small acts like composting and recycling so a bigger difference can be made. 

No.

On Jan.1, 2022 the California Senate Bill 1383 was passed, making composting a requirement for most California residents. As stated in the article Organics Recycling in California posted by the Republic Services, this bill was implemented in hopes of “reducing the emissions of short lived climate pollutants (SICP)” like fossil fuels.

Composting is a process where any individual can recycle organic matter like food leftovers, flowers, and even greased up pizza boxes into fertilizer. Unlike composting, recycling has received an abundant amount of support over the years. The reason that composting is less supported than recycling is because composting has many flaws that come with it, for example the initial investment that goes into composting like purchasing a composting bin, whereas people can have easier access to recycling bin.

The article “Disadvantages of Composting” written by Iris Ya’u and published on Web Gardener, a website about gardening, mentions that equipment like composting bins might be required to begin the composting process. However, not every household can afford to purchase equipment for composting and that is especially the case with California’s expensive economy. In a document with the title, “Life Cycle Inventory and Cost Model for Mixed Municipal and Yard Waste Composting” made by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), a typical composting facility design costs around $16 per ton and a high quality compost facility $49 per ton.

For some these prices may not seem like a lot but low-in-come households may not have the funds necessary to purchase a compost bin. However, composting is now in the bill as a necessity so low-income households will now be punished for not having funds. Even if a household can afford to compost, the process can be difficult for some to keep an eye on as people are busy with work often or do not have many chances to compost. 

Composting takes a lot of time and dedication that workers or students cannot afford to give. Composting takes time out of the day even if it takes mere minutes that can still be too much for many people who have to be away from their homes. This inability for many to give too much time to composting can cause many issues to start to rise.

A prominent issue for composting can be the horrible stench. In “Can you get rid of that horrible compost stench” written by Cayla Leonard, published by HappySprout, a website that posts primarily about plants and gardening, Leonard mentioned how “a putrid rotten smell is a common symptom of anaerobic decay.” Anaerobic decay occurs when microorganisms break down dead matter without the assistance of oxygen.

The process of composting can also be dangerous in terms of health. Even though composting aims to help “save the planet” and “better the environment” it leads to issues like diseases.

A post made by Toi Te Ora–a website that focuses on spreading information to the public about anything that could harm a person’s health–explains that bacteria found in compost and potting mix “causes legionellosis also known as Legionnaires’ disease” which is a disease that “can vary in severity from a flu-like illness to severe pneumonia.” This occurs when people inhale the dust from compost and potting mixes”

The danger of composting does not stop here. Composting has been known to be a fire hazard causing a multitude of fires to happen, which is common in composting facilities. In a pamphlet called “Fire – Compost and Organic Matter, it states that “fire requires oxygen and fuel”. Composting provides the two required materials to start a fire as it requires the gathering of organic material which can give the required oxygen and fuel for a fire.

Overall the reasons stated above clearly shine a light on why this law is a mistake and can also cause lots of people who practice it to have to deal with even more problems. Composting can be viewed as an inconvenience due to the cost and time it requires, and the fire hazards and stench it spreads. Although composting seemed like a good idea on paper, it has many repercussions and drawbacks that people should be aware of before being forced into having to do it.