After a five month pilot program this past fall, Howard County is expanding its curbside compost pick-up program in Elkridge and Ellicott City.

Food makes up 14% of what goes into our nation’s landfills.

Food composting should save the county the cost of trash-removal, earn the county money (the nutrient-rich soil that is created from our kitchen and lawn scraps is black gold), and save precious space in rapidly filling landfills (which also translates into money).

Curbside composting is coming to us all. It is simply a matter of when.

My generation grew up with trash collection. My children grew up with trash collection and recycling. My grandchildren will grow up with trash collecting, recycling and composting.

But even better, as a 20-something said to me the other day, my great-grandchildren may grow with no trash collection at all - everything will be reclaimed, remade, reused, returned.

Amen.