I admit I am not the most eco-conscious person around but occasionally I feel a tinge of guilt that my trash is contributing towards the landfill. What can we do to recycle trash or eliminate trash in a more eco-friendly way? This morning at the Guardian BYOB 2 launch, I had a chat with Fadly Bakhtiar, Programme Director of EcoKnights.

EcoKnights is an NGO based in KL. The oragnisation’s core focus are :-

• Development-led interventions for marginalised communities;
• Enhance education and awareness or sustainability for the masses;
• Policy advocacy and grassroots mobilisation in strategic partnerships with government agencies, private entities, academic institutions and other NGOs; and
• Strategic communications in addressing sustainability.

EcoKnights advocates backyard composting especially for landed properties. Compose is what you get when yard and garden debris, kitchen scraps and other organic materials have completely broken down into a nutrient rich, dark, crumbly material. It is known as backyard composting because that is where you would place your compost bin to create your very own compost.

What are the benefits of composting? Well there are quite a few:-

• Reduces the amount of waste produced in a day.
• Reduces the need for landfills and hence the emission of harmful gases.
• Compost enriches your soil by adding moisture to it.
• It is known to improve the taste and texture of vegetables and fruits and at the same time strengthening their ability to withstand diseases.
• You no longer need to buy costly fertilizers to enrich your crops.