Because of the diminishing land fill area, Florida brought in their first solid waste laws in 1994. At that time, each County was required to reduce the amount of its disposed solid waste by 30%. The people of Florida were taught how to re-cycle and compost. Leaflets were printed on how to build your own composting bin and shop-keepers were forced to add one penny onto any cans, bottles and jars they sold.

One reason that the residents were converted early was because Florida's soil is particularly permeable due to the high water table. Suddenly cutting down your garbage volume by 30% is a tall order! But it is one that we could all put into practice. One of the easy ways to cut down the amount of solid waste to be disposed of, is to compost it.

The University of Florida published a pamphlet called 'Construction of Home Compost Units', back in 1991. In Florida, residents are allowed to participate in 'backyard composting' but large scale operations needs permits.

However, if you are just composting from your own kitchen scraps, and your compost will be used again in your own yard, there are no rules to meet.

Composting has probably been practiced since the beginning of time, and some of the methods of composting are quite sophisticated. However, many of us can remember our Grandmas using a simple method.

Each day, the vegetable cuttings and kitchen waste went into a bucket, and at the end of the day they went onto a pile in the garden, which was covered with a tarp. Each week this was covered in leaves (preferably a dry mix of leaves) or straw, or paper and topped with a sprinkle of lime and soil and a liter or so of water, (if the leaves are all soggy, skip the water.) Then the procedure was repeated the next week.

After two or three weeks it was mixed up and tossed into a bin to 'heat up'. This heating up process often produces steam, but it is all part of the transformation of your garbage! It changes from moldy food into rich compost, ready for your vegetables and flowers next year. .

If your area starts cutting down on your garbage volume, this is one way you can cope. The world is running short of topsoil, so you really will be doing your 'green' bit!