Composting as an Act of Practicing Resurrection

Where do I put my coffee cup?! And the lid? And the bag from my pastry? We’ve all been there staring at the landfill, recycle, and compost bins, worried about putting our morning breakfast run trash in the wrong bin. Composting has become a lot more common in the past few years, so educating ourselves (and then passing that knowledge on) about what can be composted and why it matters is a great thing to do. I knew compost was important growing up, but I didn’t realize it would become such an important part of my life and of my faith journey until recent years in my adult life.  Our goal should always be to reduce our food waste as much as we can, but when it’s unavoidable, composting is crucial to limiting the amounts of greenhouse gases that are released from our leftovers. Landfills are a large producer of methane gas, which is one of the most potent greenhouse gases. Methane is produced by the anaerobic digestion of solid waste in landfills. However, when you compost organic waste, microbes help to break down the material. This process actually helps to sequester carbon from the atmosphere, and the resulting compost can be used as fertilizer.  This is why composting is crucial to our efforts of slowing the impact of climate change that we are seeing in tangible ways right now around the world.I believe corporations need to take responsibility for large-scale composting (many have and I’m always grateful to see it!), but composting as individuals is important too - and can turn into an important component of our daily faith practice if we let it. Composting is a daily reminder of our connection to this earth that God created, to our connection with the world and everything/everyone in it, and that the promise of resurrection is real and available for everyone.Lately, composting has been more than just a theological reaffirmation, but rather a daily decision to practice resurrection. Have you ever realized how amazing the process of composting is? Nutrients breaking down from food that wouldn’t have been used otherwise and then being put back into the ground to provide sustenance for new growth is a beautiful picture of resurrection at work before us. It’s a reminder that everything in this world is connected and was created by God and called good - and that we can sustain each other as we continue to search for wholeness, justice, and oneness in our communities.Each time I cut up vegetables, clean out my French press, eat a snack of fruit, or finish leftovers that are in a paper takeout bowl, I get to decide whether I’m going to put the effort in to save it and take it to a community compost site or choose the more convenient option of putting it in the landfill trash ten steps from my apartment door. When I choose the compost option, I feel like I’m just a tiny bit more connected - to the earth, to my neighbors, to the Divine. Need a little resurrection in your life? I invite you to join me in composting. You never know what healing and wholeness you may find in the grimy, smelly, rich goodness that is compost.In the Metro Atlanta area and looking to get involved with composting? Here are some great places to start: www.litterless.com/where-to-compost/georgia. Or you can start your own (https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home)!If your faith community is interested in starting a composting program, reach out to GIPL Program Associate, Hannah Shultz at hannah@gipl.org._____________________________________________________________________About the Author:Michelle Hettmann (she/her) is the Communications Director at Burke United Methodist Church and Communications Consultant for Neighborhood Church. She grew up in the Northern VA area before moving away for college/grad school. She studied Human Development at Virginia Tech (go Hokies!) and then moved to Atlanta, GA to pursue her MDiv at Emory’s Candler School of Theology. In her spare time, she loves trying out new low-waste gluten free/vegetarian recipes, discovering new thrift stores, and watching the latest Netflix original series. Michelle is passionate about environmental justice and the role of people of faith in the fight for climate justice. On the weekends, her favorite place to be is in a park on a picnic blanket with some good food and friends.