Composting
Composting can range from backyard bins to industrial-scale operations. Regardless, it converts organic waste into soil carbon, averting landfill methane emissions in the process.
Introduction
For every million metric tons of organic wastes that decompose, 469 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gases in the form of methane are released. Composting—the conversion of such waste into a useful soil amendment—reduces those emissions by more than 50 percent. This solution replaces the disposal of biodegradable urban organic waste in landfills. The practice has other benefits as well, including potential carbon biosequestration benefits from the use of compost as a soil amendment and potential savings from reducing demand for nitrogen fertilizers.
Project ideas to get started
Brand a concept for a compost pick-up truck that returns garden-ready compost to its members
Create an art installation that degrades into compost
App design to educate and inform people on compost and monitor bin for efficiency
Design the branding for an annual composting competition (Who can create the most compost?)
Design a label for compostable items
Create packaging for an at-home composting solution for apartment buildings that don't have compost facilities
