Rengim Mutevellioglu

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In The Washington Post: "Composting in NYC is hard. Cyclists and a pug named Rocky are helping" with Meghan McDonough

rengim mutevellioglu

Aug 3, 2022

Location: New York City

Lillian Summers grows rosemary, daikon and curly kale in a formerly abandoned lot in Bedford-Stuyvesant, powered by recycled food waste. By chopping up a balance of nitrogen-rich kitchen scraps, or “greens,” and carbon-rich materials like dried leaves, or “browns,” and slowly cycling the mixture through four bins, Summers and her neighbors create a soil-like substance that smells earthy and sweet.

Composting — a controlled decay of organic material into nutrient-rich fertilizer over weeks or months — sustains this New York City community garden. It is one of the most effective ways local governments can help combat climate change, experts say, while protecting public health. Separating food scraps means fewer rats scavenging on sidewalks. And finished compost can help heal city soil contaminated by industrial activities in parks, gardens and playgrounds.

Words by Meghan McDonough

Composting in NYC is hard. Cyclists and a pug named Rocky are helping.
Composting is one of the best ways local governments can fight climate change — and some in New York City are pushing to make it universal.
Washingtonpost.com

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