Green Earth Compost Program
Green Earth Compost is a composting program run by local, Scott Parker. Compost is collected every Thursday. If you are interested in participating in this environmentally friendly and affordable program, email Scott at gearthcompost@gmail.com with your name and home address. He provides a bucket for the compost and requests a donation of $18/month.
Benefits of composting include:
- reducing the amount of garbage each household needs to dispose of
- keeping added waste out of landfills
- keeping chemicals out of the Indian River Lagoon
- providing up to 15 times more water retention in the soil
- improving soil quality and pH balance which allows nutrients to slowly feed plants
- capturing and stores carbon in the soil preventing it from being released into the atmosphere
- encouraging beneficial bacteria and fungi to reduce pests and disease in plants, eliminating the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides
- providing a source of nutrient rich soil for use in community gardens and local parks
Since the program started, Scott has collected 58,000 pounds food waste from Melbourne Beach neighbors. As a result, over 24 tons of greenhouse gas emissions have been prevented and 14 tons of carbon has been sequestered.
Finished compost is used in Ryckman Park and is donated to nonprofits such as Daily Bread Community Garden, EGAD Community Garden and Verdi EcoSchool Community Garden.