Happy Earth Day! For GrowGood, every day is Earth Day over here and we all have to keep the conversation going year-round to protect our world! One action item that you can do safely from home to reduce your carbon footprint is composting, so we wanted to share some helpful tips to get you started here in our home of Los Angeles from one of our partners, LA Compost. 

First, how does composting reduce your carbon footprint?

  1. It reduces greenhouse gases

  2. Reduces food waste 

  3. Builds healthy soil

  4. Improves water holding capacity in soil

  5. Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers 

What do you need to start composting?

  1. 1 or 2 5-gallon containers to hold your scraps and label accordingly (ie. Green Bin or Brown Bin). The bin should be ventilated so water is able to drain. Tip: You can purchase a composting bin for a discounted rate of $20 from L.A. Sanitation, which also has tutorials on how to compost here.

  2. A garden fork or similar tool.

  3. Water to mix until damp.

What is actually compostable?

Green Bin Items Include:

  1. Fruit Scraps

  2. Vegetable Scraps

  3. Coffee Grounds and tea bags (no nylon bags)

  4. Egg Shells (shells only)

  5. Green Leaves

  6. Grass Trimmings

  7. Old Flowers

Brown Bin Items Include:

  1. Mulch/Wood Chips

  2. Dead Leaves (Brown Leaf)

  3. Sawdust (from Untreated Wood)

  4. Twigs (Break into 2-3 Pieces)

  5. Newspaper and Shredded paper

What is NOT compostable?

  1. Plastic

  2. Compostable plastic

  3. Cat litter

  4. Dog poop

  5. Meat

  6. Dairy

Where can you drop off your scraps?

First, you can drop off your food scraps at the GrowGood farm! We have a co-op with LA Compost. Sign up to join here or find a co-op near you here.

In Los Angeles, LA Compost hosts every Sunday a drop-off no-contact event in Elysian Valley Community Garden (1816 Blake Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039) from 10am - 2pm. You can find out more here.

Also at LA Compost’s Save it Saturdays at Suay Sew Shop (2915 Knox Ave #105, Los Angeles, CA 90039) from 10am to 3pm you can repair your clothes, recycled textiles, shop the free rack AND drop off your food scraps. More info here.

If you are unable to drop off your scraps, check out Compostable LA to sign up for food scraps pickup service, which starts at about $30 a month. You could team up with neighbors to do this as well!

How else can you help within your community?

  1. Attend an LA Compost Workshop. 

  2. Volunteer with GrowGood and LA Compost to learn more.

  3. Create a program in your own community & spread the word.

  4. Find people in your community who are also composting at MakeSoil.org and team up!

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