Food waste is a major environmental issue, but composting offers a simple and sustainable solution. Whether you have a large backyard or live in an apartment, composting helps reduce landfill waste, improve soil health, and lower carbon emissions.
This guide will show you how to start composting at home, even in small spaces.
1. What Is Composting and Why Does It Matter?
Composting is the natural process of breaking down organic materials (like food scraps and yard waste) into nutrient-rich soil.
✅ Why Compost?
♻ Reduces landfill waste – Food scraps don’t belong in the trash.
🌱 Improves soil health – Creates natural fertilizer for plants.
🌍 Lowers carbon footprint – Decomposing food in landfills produces methane, a greenhouse gas.
💰 Saves money – Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
💡 Bonus Tip: Composting can reduce household waste by up to 30%!
2. Choose the Right Composting Method for Your Space
You don’t need a big yard to compost—there’s an option for every living situation.
🏡 Outdoor Composting (Best for Homes with a Yard)
✔ Traditional Compost Pile – A simple heap of organic waste in a designated area.
✔ Compost Bin or Tumbler – Enclosed bins that speed up decomposition.
✔ Trench Composting – Bury food scraps directly in the garden.
🏢 Indoor Composting (Best for Small Spaces and Apartments)
✔ Worm Bin (Vermicomposting) – Uses worms to break down food scraps in a compact bin.
✔ Bokashi Composting – Ferments food scraps in an airtight container, even meat and dairy.
✔ Electric Composters – Small countertop devices that turn food waste into compost quickly.
💡 Bonus Tip: For apartments, worm bins or Bokashi composting are odor-free and easy to maintain.
3. What Can and Cannot Be Composted?
✅ Compost These Items:
🥦 Fruit and vegetable scraps
🍞 Bread, rice, and grains
🌿 Coffee grounds and tea leaves
🥚 Eggshells
🍂 Yard waste (leaves, grass clippings)
🧻 Shredded paper and cardboard
❌ Avoid These Items (Unless Using Bokashi Composting):
🚫 Meat, fish, and dairy (attracts pests in traditional composting)
🚫 Oily or greasy food
🚫 Plastic or synthetic materials
🚫 Diseased plants or weeds
💡 Bonus Tip: Chop food scraps into smaller pieces to speed up decomposition.
4. Maintain the Right Balance: Green vs. Brown Materials
A healthy compost needs a mix of green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) materials.
🌿 Green (Nitrogen-Rich) Materials:
✔ Fruit and veggie scraps
✔ Coffee grounds
✔ Fresh grass clippings
🍂 Brown (Carbon-Rich) Materials:
✔ Dry leaves and straw
✔ Shredded newspaper or cardboard
✔ Wood chips or sawdust
💡 Bonus Tip: Aim for a 2:1 ratio of browns to greens to prevent bad odors.
5. How to Set Up Your Compost System
🏡 For Outdoor Composting:
1️⃣ Choose a spot – A shaded area with good drainage.
2️⃣ Start with browns – Lay dry leaves or cardboard at the bottom.
3️⃣ Add greens – Layer food scraps on top.
4️⃣ Turn the pile weekly to speed up decomposition.
5️⃣ Keep it moist – Like a damp sponge, but not too wet.
🏢 For Indoor Composting (Worm Bin or Bokashi):
1️⃣ Get a container with air holes for worms (or an airtight Bokashi bucket).
2️⃣ Add bedding (shredded paper, coconut fiber) for worms.
3️⃣ Feed small food scraps and avoid overloading the bin.
4️⃣ For Bokashi, sprinkle fermenting bran over food waste.
5️⃣ Harvest compost in a few weeks for plants!
💡 Bonus Tip: Bokashi composting can process meat and dairy, unlike traditional composting.
6. How to Use Your Finished Compost
Once the compost turns into dark, crumbly soil (in 2–6 months), it’s ready to use!
✅ Ways to Use Compost:
🌱 Mix into garden soil for healthy plants.
🪴 Use as potting soil for houseplants.
🌿 Make compost tea – A natural fertilizer for watering plants.
🏡 Donate to community gardens if you don’t have plants.
💡 Bonus Tip: Sift compost before using to remove large, undecomposed pieces.
7. Common Composting Problems and Solutions
❌ Bad Smell?
🚫 Too many greens → Add more browns like dry leaves or cardboard.
🚫 Too wet → Add dry materials and turn the pile.
❌ Compost Not Breaking Down?
🚫 Pile too dry → Sprinkle with water.
🚫 Not enough air → Turn the pile more often.
❌ Pests in the Compost?
🚫 Avoid meat, dairy, and oily foods.
🚫 Use a sealed bin if pests are a problem.
💡 Bonus Tip: Properly balanced compost should not smell bad!
Final Thoughts
Composting is an easy and effective way to reduce waste and improve soil health. No matter where you live, there’s a composting method that works for you!
Start by:
✔ Choosing an outdoor bin, worm bin, or Bokashi system.
✔ Adding the right mix of greens and browns.
✔ Using finished compost for plants and gardens.
Every food scrap saved from the landfill helps reduce pollution and build a greener future. 🌱♻️