What is a primary environmental benefit of composting?

What is a primary environmental benefit of composting?

• A. Increases Landfill Waste
• B. Reduces Landfill Waste and Adds Nutrients to Soil
• C. Increases Plastic Pollution
• D. Requires More Energy

Answer: (B)

Composting mainly reduces environmental impact by turning organic waste into a useful soil amendment rather than letting it sit in a landfill. When organics are diverted from landfills, less methane—an potent greenhouse gas produced by anaerobic decomposition—escapes into the atmosphere. At the same time, the resulting compost adds nutrients to the soil, improves soil structure and moisture retention, and lowers the need for synthetic fertilizers. This combination—cutting waste going to landfills and enriching soil—captures the most direct and meaningful environmental benefits. The other statements describe outcomes that don’t align with what composting does: it doesn’t increase landfill waste, it doesn’t inherently raise plastic pollution, and it generally uses less energy than many alternative waste-management options.

Composting mainly reduces environmental impact by turning organic waste into a useful soil amendment rather than letting it sit in a landfill. When organics are diverted from landfills, less methane—an potent greenhouse gas produced by anaerobic decomposition—escapes into the atmosphere. At the same time, the resulting compost adds nutrients to the soil, improves soil structure and moisture retention, and lowers the need for synthetic fertilizers. This combination—cutting waste going to landfills and enriching soil—captures the most direct and meaningful environmental benefits. The other statements describe outcomes that don’t align with what composting does: it doesn’t increase landfill waste, it doesn’t inherently raise plastic pollution, and it generally uses less energy than many alternative waste-management options.