We all know how important the environment is. I don't need to explain the importance of waste management to keep our society clean and free of imminent infestation, disease and pollution. And I don't need to remind you that paper products, cardboard, metals, plastics and glass go in separate recycling bins, and that most other things go in the garbage.

But what I can remind you of is the option to compost. Composting is the ecological breakdown of materials that sends our waste back into the earth instead of the landfill. There are two types of compost: indoor and outdoor. Usually indoor composters are best suited for kitchen waste and what's dubbed as “green” material, such as fruit, coffee filters, bread and tea bags.

Outdoor composting units are for yard waste, and what's called “brown” material, such as sawdust, grass clipping, leaves and woodchips, but you can put kitchen waste in there as well. Not every piece of waste can be composted, however; it's important to note that dairy products, dead plants, pet waste and especially meat shouldn't be put in the composter, so double check to make sure these stay out.

The Thames Region Ecological Association (TREA), is a local organization that promotes environmental awareness in London. Volunteer President Maryanne MacDonald of TREA shed light on why composting isn't where it needs to be. “I think we've made it very easy, especially in cities, for most people to just put everything in their garbage bin, and we've never really made it a popular thing to do, to separate your waste and compost,” she said. “Certainly for over 20 years we've had the blue bin and we have plastics, aluminum, pop cans, glass and that sort of thing that you can separate into recycling, which takes a lot of it out of landfill. But there's a good portion of our landfill right now that is able to be taken out into the compost stream and made useful.”

There's one common pet peeve that keeps many from avoiding composting altogether. “A lot of people don't do it because they feel like there's going to be a smell to it,” MacDonald said. “But if you layer it, and if you look after it, there shouldn't be any smell at all. It's a very natural process.” Installing a composting unit isn't difficult, and if it's done properly, the bad smell can be easily avoided. “You make it like a lasagna, you layer it: you have brown material, you have green material… and brown material again. Water it; make sure it's not too wet (that) when you squeeze it it's like a damp sponge. That gives the microorganisms an opportunity to work, grow and multiply, and they are able to break down that organic material into its component parts and make it into rich soil.”

According to 22-year-old Holly Claeys, a summer volunteer with TREA, many people just can't be bothered. “Honestly, I think a lot of young people are kind of self-absorbed and don't take the time,” she said. “You see a lot of younger people who don't really want to listen to you when you're teaching them how to sort out their garbage, because they have more important things to do, and composting isn't cool to them.” Composting helps prevent erosion and plant dehydration, while providing nutrients for plants and improving soil quality- what's not cool about that?

Fanshawe makes it easy for students to compost: virtually anywhere you can eat on campus, there are composting bins to use for your food disposal. If you're considering composting at home, you can buy all of our composting essentials at any community enviro-depot, hardware store or garden centre. Composting is cool, and saving the environment is an ongoing trend.