In an effort to combat climate change and promote sustainable practices, Thurston County has officially designated June 2024 as Composting Awareness Month.
This proclamation highlights the county's commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emissions associated with food waste and landfill disposal.
“Composting provides effective tools immediately available to tackle climate change, food security, and soil degradation,” the proclamation read.
The initiative stems from Washington State's Organics Management Law, enacted to curb methane emissions generated when organic materials decompose in landfills.
The law sets targets: rescuing 20% of previously disposed edible food for human consumption by 2025 and diverting 75% of organic materials from landfills by 2030.
Moreover, it mandates phased organic materials management for businesses exceeding specific thresholds, starting in 2024.
“Composting is an essential factor in the success of the Washington State legislature's 2021 Climate Commitment Act, which aims to reduce carbon output,” stated Kimberly Graham of Thurston County Environmental Health.
“The law will reduce landfill waste, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, promote sustainability, enhance soil health by increasing production and use of compost, and support a circular economy where organic waste is repurposed and recycled, reducing impacts to the environment.”
Graham said that at the local level, Thurston County Environmental Health is working with the Public Works Education, outreach, and ecology teams to identify the businesses affected by this law and to educate them of the requirements and what they can do to not only comply but also reduce their waste output entirely.
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