In Sacramento County 150,000 cubic yards of grass clippings (or the equivalent of a 7 story building the size of a football field) are generated every year. Americans throw away about 10% of the food they buy at the supermarket. This results in dumping the equivalent of more than 21 million shopping bags full of food into landfills every year. One pound of red worms can consume half a pound of food waste every day. Recycling an average-size family's yard waste can make about 300-400 pounds of finished compost, or humus, a year. Thirty-five million tons of yard trimmings (including grass, leaves, and tree and brush trimmings) are generated in the U.S. annually. Each year, 12% of the yard trimmings produced are composted. Fallen leaves contain 50-80% of the nutrients that a tree extracts from the Earth. By composting them, we're helping the earth replenish itself. Grass makes up 70% of all yard waste. If grass clippings are short enough, they quickly decompose and supply the soil with nitrogen and carbon. When yard waste is buried in landfills, where there is not much oxygen, it releases methane gas, a powerful green house gas that contributes to air pollution and global warming. Methane and other toxics can also condense into liquid and leach into groundwater. More than 20 states prohibit landfills from accepting landscape waste (Illinois is one of them).  Instead, separate pick-ups are made and this waste is composted to be used in state landscaping. Zoos are in the business of composting.  Many compost animal waste and then sell it as "Zoo Doo," a rich fertilizer for gardens. Composting food scraps adds nitrogen, which speeds up the composting process and helps make better fertilizer. Adding saw dust to your compost pile will help absorb and mask odors. Worm compost is sometimes used as one of the ingredients in potting soil that can be bought at hardware stores and garden centers. Check the labels next time you have a chance, and see if worms can help your houseplants to grow!