Composting offers benefits beyond the backyard for Fort Wayne residents

While composting provides soil amendments for landscaping and gardens, its benefits extend beyond local residents’ yards.

Composting not only reduces waste that goes into the landfill, it can also bring down what residents pay for garbage collection and benefit the health of waterways, says Hannah Allen of Fort Wayne City Utilities. Landscape debris makes up about 13.4% of all residential garbage going into the landfill, according to the program manager of watershed and sustainability.

For starting a composting effort, Allen recommends using one part green to three parts brown. Green material includes grass clippings, food waste or other fresh items. Brown material includes dried leaves and woody items. Stay clear of meat, grease, oil or acidic fruits, she says.

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