For the first part of the tour, we got to observe their hot compost process, a form of composting that utilizes high temperatures and bacteria to quickly break down organic material. We got to see several compost piles, all at different stages in the decomposition process, and the scale of the production was unbelievably massive. To put it in comparison, K college’s composting program composted 6,883 pounds of organic material last year while My Green Michigan composted 263,796 pounds – and that number is only counting food waste from Kalamazoo College!

The next part of the tour consisted of vermicomposting – the use of worms for composting! Vermicomposting utilizes earthworm digestion to produce nutrient-dense soil with plenty of microorganisms that benefit plants. We got to say hello to My Green Michigan’s worms, and some of us were even lucky enough to have them crawl around in the palm of our hand! We then learned about the different processes and methods of vermicomposting as well as how they conduct their soil testing. At the end of the tour, we got to walk away with some compost of our very own – though it was sadly worm-free.

Often, it can be hard to comprehend how important composting is when we only see the first step: putting out scraps into the composting bin. Though we don’t get to see the obvious benefits of our composting, it is still incredibly beneficial to the environment as it can replenish nutrient loss in the soil, reduce landfill waste, and combat climate change.

So remember, use the green bins for your food scraps! It’s one of the easiest ways to create a most sustainable planet!