5 Incredible Ways to Clean Soil Pollution by Composting

A low-impact approach to making a big difference for the environment.

Composting is an age-old method of sustainable living that involves making nutrient-rich, fertile soil with the help of yard waste and food scraps. Composting also eliminates pollutants from the soil. By extracting or converting harmful chemicals, composting returns unhealthy soil to a safe, natural condition. This guide contains five ways to prevent and clean soil pollution. First, let's look at some basic facts about contaminants and composting.

What Is soil pollution?

Pollution comes from any substance that compromises the Earth's natural balance. Toxins and contaminants find their way into the surface soil found in your community. Some contaminants occur naturally, but most come from human activity. What are the major sources of soil pollution? Everything from household chemicals to motor oil works its way into the ground. Chemical fertilizers represent a significant source of pollution.

The effects of soil pollution.

Contaminants impact the soil's ability to grow healthy plants. Those plants that grow can absorb the pollutants and pass them up the food chain. Harsh toxins also find their way into the groundwater. Thus, the pollution can end up on your plate or in your glass. Unhealthy soil also leads to erosion, affecting the amount of farmable land.

Some of these pollutants are harder to eradicate than others. While a durable set of garden tools can excavate the compromised soil, you'll probably need to change your daily practices to completely eliminate these harmful contaminants.

A brief look at composting.

At its most basic level, composting creates healthy, organic fertilizer which is good news for the plants in your outdoor garden.

Compost begins with waste ― yard waste and leftover vegetable matter from your kitchen. It can include items such as eggshells, coffee grinds and paper towels, so long as they're free of chemical cleansers. Some organic matter doesn't belong in the mix, like meat and dairy, for example. Over time, the compost ingredients break down. With proper irrigation and regular tending, a compost heap or kitchen composter will transform waste into vital nutrients.

The connection between compost and the soil.

Compost restores a healthy balance of moisture, natural chemicals and essential microbes to the ground. Its application slows the spread of soil pollution. By using compost for gardening and lawn care, you eliminate chemical fertilizers, speeding the soil's recovery.

Using compost to help stop soil erosion.

Erosion occurs when water or wind dislodges topsoil. Unhealthy soil, especially when it’s dry or compacted, experiences a greater risk of erosion. Rich compost provides soil with the moisture and structure to better resist displacement. Plus, it contributes to the growth of vibrant plant life which also stabilizes the soil.

How can composting help save the environment?

Composting creates healthy soil and minimizes erosion, but it also removes pollution from the environment. These five aspects of composting contribute to healthier soil in your community.

1. Bioremediation

Bioremediation involves natural organic processes that return the soil to a healthy state. These processes happen more quickly in a compost heap where a legion of microbes breaks down organic material. Since they break apart more than the vegetation, these colonies of diverse microscopic life can reduce many complex toxins into safe, beneficial molecules.

2. Fungi

The biomass created by composting includes many different organisms, and fungi play a unique role. Petrochemicals, such as motor oil, are organic in nature but processing and refining turn them into toxins for the planet Earth. The fungi in a compost heap break the complex petrochemical into parts that bacteria can then consume.

3. Minimized waste

Landfills represent a significant source of soil pollution. Thankfully, recycling programs have helped take some of the burden off community landfills. However, a dump can leach toxins into the ground and water. The larger the landfill, the greater the risk of pollution.

Composting keeps even more waste out of landfills. Keep in mind that items that don't belong in a compost pile need to go in trash or recycling bins. Don't forget to recycle your electronics and appliances to further cut down on the growth of landfills.

4. Vermicomposting

Worms play a big role in healthy compost, and polluted soil reclamation is no exception. While modern countertop composting rarely leans on this invertebrate assistance, outdoor areas of contaminated soil surely benefit from worms and their castings. These crawlers both speed up the process and create a healthy environment for the microbes. Even if you don’t place worms in your compost heap, healthy soil promotes worm activity. That leads to more microbial growth, aerated soil and fewer pollutants.

5. Plant growth

Some compounds prove difficult for microbes, worms and fungi. Plants can provide extra help by harnessing and trapping dangerous substances (like heavy metals) through a process called phytoextraction. Although you can't eat the plants used for this process, as their foliage contains toxins, it is a method that is being researched for the restoration of areas such as wetlands.

Now that you know more about the ways composting can help remediate pollutants, check out your personal composting options. See what you can do to improve your own space and your community. A little effort on your part can have a ripple effect on your community and lasting benefits for the world.