Turning Waste Into Wealth: The Benefits of Composting Food Scraps

By Madera Rogers-Henry

In a world where convenience often leads to excess waste, composting offers a powerful, low-tech solution that turns everyday food scraps into something rich, restorative, and deeply regenerative: soil.

At The Recycle Challenge, we believe that small, consistent actions—like composting—can spark big change. Composting is more than a sustainable habit; it’s a commitment to honoring the full life cycle of our food and giving back to the Earth that nourishes us.

🌱 What Is Composting?

Composting is the natural process of recycling organic material, like fruit peels, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, and yard waste, into nutrient-rich soil. It’s like cooking—but for the earth.

When done right, composting transforms what many consider "trash" into "black gold"—a powerful, chemical-free fertilizer that helps gardens, farms, and green spaces thrive.

🍓 Top Benefits of Composting Your Food Scraps

1. Reduces Landfill Waste

Food scraps make up 30% or more of the waste sent to landfills. When trapped in plastic bags without oxygen, this organic matter produces methane, a greenhouse gas over 25 times more harmful than carbon dioxide. Composting cuts this off at the source.

2. Enriches Soil Naturally

Compost feeds the soil, not just the plants. It helps retain moisture, suppresses pests and diseases, and promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria and fungi. This leads to stronger roots, more resilient crops, and tastier fruits and vegetables.

3. Supports Local Gardens and Urban Farms

For communities like ours in the Lower 9th Ward and beyond, compost is more than eco-friendly—it’s economically empowering. Local gardens, schools, and community farms rely on compost to grow food, reduce costs, and build food sovereignty.

4. Cuts Down on the Need for Chemical Fertilizers

Synthetic fertilizers harm the land over time, leaching into waterways and disturbing ecosystems. Composting allows you to nurture the land naturally—no additives, no pollution, just pure nutrients from your kitchen.

5. Builds a Culture of Care and Connection

Composting encourages mindfulness. It shifts our relationship with waste and food, reminding us that nothing truly disappears—it just transforms. It’s a collective act of healing, community-building, and environmental stewardship.

🔁 How to Start Composting at Home or in Your Community

• Freeze your food scraps – One thing that my family does is freeze leftover organic food scraps in a designated plastic grocery bag. It keeps odors down, reduces mess, and makes storage simple. At least once or twice a week, we deliver our frozen scraps to either a community garden or our local compost drop-off partner.

• Donate your frozen food scraps – If you choose to freeze your scraps, you can donate them to local community gardens or farmers markets that accept compostable materials. These donations help feed the soil in spaces that grow fresh, local food.

• Join a compost collective – Many neighborhoods have compost hubs or swap stations. Connect with a local compost co-op, collective, or garden where you can contribute scraps and help close the loop.

• Start a backyard compost system – Even a small space can support a compost bin or pile. Alternate “greens” (food scraps) with “browns” (leaves, cardboard, and dry paper) to maintain balance and prevent odor.

• Engage with The Recycle Challenge – Attend one of our crafting and composting pop-ups, volunteer days, or workshops. We host hands-on learning experiences where youth and elders work together to recycle, repurpose, and regenerate—starting with the soil.

• Use a countertop bin for daily scraps (avoid meat, dairy, and oils unless you’re using advanced systems).

  
  

🌍 Composting Is a Radical Act of Hope

When you compost, you’re not just managing waste—you’re contributing to a circular economy that values regeneration over disposal. You’re helping grow gardens, nourish people, and restore balance. One banana peel at a time.

Let’s keep our soil rich, our communities fed, and our planet breathing. Composting is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to do just that.

Ready to take the challenge? Join our upcoming Recycle Challenge events, where composting meets creativity, culture, and community transformation. Sign up to volunteer, donate scraps, or start your own neighborhood compost drop-off site.

Together, we can turn what we throw away into something we grow with.