ecoLIVING London

Many people understand the benefits of composting. Kitchen scraps and yard waste diverted from the landfill will eventually produce material rich in nutrients that can be added to vegetable and garden beds to help plants grow. Many people engage in composting activities in their backyard, or even in their house with vermicomposting.

So, if I throw my kitchen scraps and yard waste over my fence into the natural area behind my house, I will be helping to enrich the soil, which will help the forest plants grow, right?

Well, not exactly. In fact, this action harms the natural area. Though it may seem like you’re composting, dumped waste smothers native vegetation, can contain harmful chemicals, and may introduce seeds of plants that are not native to the area. Often times non-native plants can become very invasive, out competing native vegetation for valuable nutrients, reducing biodiversity of the area, and decreasing essential habitat that native wildlife require to survive.

Dumping yard waste into a ravine further compounds the issue, as heavy loads at the top of a bank can lead to bank erosion and slumping. Unstable slopes pose a danger to people, can affect the structural integrity of buildings, and load the Cove ponds with sediment, which in turn affects quality of water and habitat.

Instead of dumping kitchen and yard waste into a natural area, throw it in a compost bin. Yard waste can also be put in a certified compostable bag for curb-side pick-up.

Click here for scheduled pick-up dates of yard material in London:

www.london.ca/d.aspx?s=/Garbage/zonemap_pdf.htm

Article provided by Friends of the Coves.