The more one thinks about it, the entire future of the planet depends on effective composting. For millions of years plant nutrients have been recycled by natural composting in the soil but we humans have now largely hijacked this process with our expensive water borne sewage systems and our crass waste disposal policies.
The sewage system diverts vital nutrients into rivers, lakes and seas where they become pollution. The disposal of 8 million tons of organic waste each year into landfill not only removes plant nutrients from the virtuous circle of life but also generates huge quantities of methane.
Compost makes the world go round
In soil that works without a sound
Beasts and bugs grow underground
No better system will be found
Recycling nutrients by the pound
But now we throw our “waste” away
75,000 tons each and every day
Human “waste” flushed out to sea
By the toilets used by you and me
It's cheap and quick for easy money
But our children's children won't think it's funny
We could do better with some wisdom
Managing waste in the United Kingdom
Every house could compost food waste
Learn to live with much less haste
Save the Earth by using less not more
Leave plastic at the super-market door
My Campaign
The National Trust is, as all UK residents know, the country's largest landowner. Like millions of others, I visit numerous beautiful old National Trust properties every year. Despite the Trust's public relations claims that it promotes sustainable policies, I have not seen properly managed composting arrangements in any of these properties. There is a wonderful opportunity here for the Trust to put their fine words into practice and show all their millions of visitors how good composting arrangements can “save the world”. Both kitchen and garden waste could and should be properly composted or even processed through a modern bio-digester.
(The UK is the “slow coach” of Europe in its waste treatment policies. Germany, for example, has more than 9000 bio-digesters producing renewable electricity whilst the UK has less than 500.)
If you are a member of the National Trust and would like to join my campaign to improve their organic waste management then please send me an email. Together we could force them to do better!
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