Have you ever considered what happens to the materials you throw out in your garbage can? Where do they go and what happens to them? What does the journey look like for your banana peel?

If you were to throw your banana in the trash here in Eagle County, it would be hauled to the landfill in Wolcott. The landfill is designed so nothing breaks down organically.

What does this mean? When something like a banana is thrown in the trash, it gets buried in a landfill where there’s no oxygen. Without oxygen, it can’t break down properly like it would in nature. Oxygen is essential for decomposition because it allows microbes to break down organic material efficiently, turning it into nutrient-rich soil instead of producing harmful gases like methane.

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Organic waste in landfills basically gets mummified because it’s cut off from air and moisture. Landfills are built to trap waste, which keeps it from breaking down naturally. Without oxygen, the microbes that normally decompose food and other organic materials can’t do their job. Instead of rotting like it would in nature, the waste stays preserved.

Organic material in landfills contributes to methane emissions, which happen when organic material breaks down without oxygen and releases harmful gases. In the United States, 14% of methane emissions are attributed to landfills. Secondly, when something is brought to the landfill, it will stay there forever. This is a loss of resources and puts pressure on the environment to harvest even more resources. We must divert any waste we can from the landfills, especially when creating a circular system like composting.

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In Eagle County, we are lucky to have such an incredible compost facility. Vail Honeywagon is located in Wolcott and accepts the widest range of compostable items from fruits, meats, bones, coffee grounds, and all other food scraps to napkins, coffee filters, and BPI-certified compostable products. BPI-certified compostables are commonly used by businesses across the valley.

When these organics are brought to the compost facility, they go through a three-month process where they are put into a pile to begin to decompose. Chris Dunsirn at Vail Honeywagon Organics explains that “nature does it all”. His job is to turn the piles about seven times to create the optimal world for microorganisms to do the decomposition. Composting gives circularity to our organic material. These materials will break down and be used again as a soil amendment to improve plant growth and add nutrients to our soils.

Why compost in Eagle County?

In 2017, it was found that 37% of what was sent to our landfill could have been composted. The Climate Action Plan adopted by Eagle County aims to divert 80% of all organics by 2030. In 2024, Vail Honeywagon processed around 11,000 yards of organics into compost — roughly the size of 4.4 Olympic-sized swimming pools. It’s time for our community to come together, step up our composting efforts, and prevent more organic waste from piling up landfill

Soil Nutrient Depletion is a global issue

Compost is a game-changer for soil health, increasing root mass by up to 30%, which improves water retention and reduces flood risks. Stronger, deeper roots also help create more fire-resistant landscapes and sequester carbon, mitigating climate change. By improving soil structure and boosting plant resilience, compost is a simple yet powerful tool for a sustainable future. Across the world, about one-third of all soils are moderately or highly depleted according to an EPA report. Depleted soils lack nutrients, which would require the use of excess fertilizers to remain productive.

Composting in Eagle County is like giving Mother Nature a much-needed boost, turning waste into something that actually benefits our environment. By keeping organic material out of the landfill, we’re not only saving space but also creating healthier soils, reducing flood and fire risks, and fighting climate change, one banana peel at a time. Let’s make composting the norm and give our landfills a break.

Quinn Brewer is the Zero Waste Lead at Walking Mountains. She loves shredding Copper Mountain and using a label maker.