Sequestering Superhero
When it comes to combating greenhouse gas, one need only look to the trash
This article first appeared in the April 21, 2022 edition of the Durango Telegraph.
In the fight against climate change, one superhero sidekick is not getting the full recognition they deserve. Despite working diligently every day to combat greenhouse gas emissions, they remain mostly underappreciated worldwide.
With Earth Day just around the corner, let’s take a moment to shine a light on this unsung hero whose superpowers are threefold: not only do they divert tons of what would become methane from entering the atmosphere, but they also assist in capturing carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas culprit, and transform it into carbon- — the energy currency utilized only by all biological systems on the planet. All this while also providing nutrients to the soils and increasing water retention, minimizing the need for herbicides and pesticides, and contributing to healthier, more resilient plants, crops, and gardens.
Yes, I’m talking about compost.
But why is it so important? According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2018 alone, Americans threw away 103 million tons of food scraps, sending them directly to the landfill. Here in Durango…
