Biodegradable Products and Composting
The Federal Trade Commission defines biodegradable as a substance that has been proven to break down completely and return to nature within a reasonably short period of time. Biodegradable products and packaging are wonderful; however, the problem with them is that a product needs adequate exposure to natural elements to biodegrade. It has to be out in nature exposed to sun, rain, water, and the elements. Biodegradable products that get stuffed in trash bags and sent to the landfill will not biodegrade the way they are meant to.
Get It Sorted Out
Ideally, your reception site has a composting program in effect and will take care of everything for you. The biodegradable substances left over from your wedding should go into compost bins or piles instead of garbage bags destined for the dump. If you went out of your way to purchase bio-degradable products such as plates and silverware made from cornstarch, potatoes, sugar cane, or other natural biodegradable, compostable materials, make sure they go where they were meant to.
It might take a bit of effort and even a little gross factor to make sure everything ends up where it should (you can always convince responsible people to do it for you if the reception facility doesn't). Garbage will have to be divided into what will be recycled, composted, and sent to the dump. Plates will have to be scraped off because no meat, dairy, bones, or fatty greases should be put into a compost bin. Fruit, vegetable, and other scraps can go into compost as well as any natural décor you have left over such as leaves, flowers, twigs, or other organic materials.
Even in nature it takes some things a long time to biodegrade, so they are better off being recycled. Regular paper can take two to five months to biodegrade, plastic-coated paper milk cartons take five years, nylon fabric stays around for thirty to forty years, aluminum cans can last eighty to 100 years, and glass can take longer than a million years to break down.
DIY Composting
If your reception site does not compost biodegradable materials, you can do it yourself. Basically, you put all-natural scraps and organic matter into a big pile to break down and turn into nutrient-rich soil that's perfect for gardens. Ideal items for compost include leaves, pine needles, grass, yard and plant trimmings, fruit and vegetable peels, crushed eggshells, tea bags, coffee grounds and filters, sawdust, cornstalks, paper, wood chips, hay, and straw. The key to composting is to get the right mix of different types of scraps to keep the ratio of carbon and nitrogen in balance to allow for proper decomposition. You also need to keep it moist and rotated to allow for all-over decomposition.
There are many types of composting structures. The simplest method is to create a pile, but you can get elaborate and build a large three-chambered structure. There are bins, barrels, and drums in many home improvement and garden centers and at many online retailers. These bins are great for those who do not have a lot of yard space or who want things to compost quickly.
Composting is a great way to give back to nature and provide healthy nutrient-rich soil for future organic goods to grow. It continues the circle and closes the loop. If you would like to learn more about composting, there are many resources available on the web or in your local library. You could also check out local gardening groups and clubs.
Recycling saves precious resources and reduces energy consumption. Every glass bottle recycled saves enough energy to power a 100-watt light bulb for four hours. By recycling just one aluminum can you can save enough energy to power a television for three hours, and by recycling a one-gallon plastic milk jug you could have enough energy to power a 100-watt light bulb for eleven hours.
