Composting is nature's recycling bin. It's a way of turning old food scraps, leaves, and other organic materials into nutrient-rich soil. You pile up your kitchen and garden waste, let it break down naturally with the help of tiny organisms like bacteria and fungi, and eventually, you get a dark soil that helps plants grow healthy and strong.

Have you ever wondered what happens to food waste in U.S. landfills? It turns out that food decays much faster than other types of solid waste – and that’s a problem. It makes up one-quarter of U.S. landfills and nearly three-fifths of their methane emissions. We worry so much about cars and cows – as we should – but food waste is the reason why landfills are the third largest contributor to U.S. methane emissions. 

Composting not only reduces the amount of waste headed for landfills, it enriches the soil, increases moisture retention, decreases runoff in our waterways, and leads to cleaner oceans. It also helps our communities by nourishing community gardens in urban and rural food deserts.

Not sure where to begin? No problem. We’ll cover the basics along with practical steps to help you jumpstart your composting journey. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a beginner eager to reduce waste and contribute to a healthier planet, we’ve got you covered. Even if you don’t have a garden, you can still donate your food scraps and help keep waste out of landfills. 

1. What to Compost

The soil makeup of compost has five key components; water, air, living organisms, minerals, and organic matter. The combination creates a nutrient-rich soil. You will need green and brown materials to begin. 

Green materials provide nitrogen to the soil which is necessary for thermal conversion and benefits your garden by giving the plants nutrients for growth. You can use many different greens for your compost bin. Examples are fruit and vegetable scraps, grass clippings, and coffee grounds. 

Brown Materials are carbon rich and help in the decomposing process by providing an energy source to the microbes, allowing air to those microorganisms. Items like dry leaves, mulch, unsoiled cardboard, and hay are great materials to use. 

Only some things can be composted. Certain items should be avoided because they may attract pests or wildlife, or create pathogens. You have to remember this new soil will be used to grow food so it should be organic. You should never compost meat, dairy products, oils, processed foods, and pet waste in traditional composting methods. For a complete list of materials visit the Environmental Protection Agency website on Composting.

2. Choose a Compost Method 

When choosing to compost, you need to consider which method will work best for you. There are ways to compost in even the smallest spaces. You can start in your backyard or on your apartment balcony or patio. Think about the amount of space available, the time commitment, and the kinds of materials you have. 

Cold composting mimics nature and is an easy way to compost. Think of the forest floor, the leaves fall from the trees and blanket the floor decomposing naturally. To begin with cold composting, you need only allocate the space where you keep the pile. This is a slower process but works well if you aren’t in a rush for the results or may not have much to compost.  

Hot composting can be compared to making lasagna. You want to add the layers of brown and green materials to the pile in a sealed container or stacked bin. The compost breaks down faster with higher temperatures, speeding up the decomposition process. The benefits of this method are fewer odors, the reduction of pathogens, and you’ll have usable compost in a few months, compared to cold composting methods which can take up to a year. 

Other compost methods are:

Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting involves the use of worms to help in the process of decomposition at a more traditional rate. The worms themselves turn the pile which is less work for you. This method does not produce heat making it a more natural way to compost. The castings from the worms are rich in potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus which is beneficial for the microorganisms in the soil.

Bokashi Composting

Bokashi composting uses the combination of an airtight container and specialized bacteria to ferment food scraps. The Japanese method uses bacteria to predigest water matter, speeding up the composting process. The benefits of using this method are it can be done in smaller spaces like an apartment, it does not generate greenhouse gasses, and you can compost all organic food waste, even dairy, meats, and fats.

3. Set Up Your Compost Bin

Now that we’ve covered the different types of composting and which materials you can use, let’s talk about the setup: the type of bin, its size, and the initial layering of materials. The placement of your compost bin should be both practical and strategic. The bin needs light to help in the decomposing process but also should be placed in an area that allows you to easily move the finished soil to planters or a garden. You’ll want a space where the drainage is good because it’s important for the compost not to get too wet.

The bin you choose should be based on your available space. If you’re in a smaller space, a tumbler bin, a small trash can with a lid or even a tote can be used. In a larger space,  a 3-bin composter would do the trick. Begin by gathering your green and brown materials. If you decide to use a DIY bin method be sure to drill holes throughout the bin to allow for drainage and airflow. You will start with a bottom layer of brown materials then green materials, alternating like you would layering a cake. Water each layer make sure to use brown materials for the top layer. The top layer should consist of potting soil, wood chips, etc. 

You will need to turn your compost 3-4 times a week to provide oxygen to the compost. Maintain a 2:1 ratio of greens to browns in your pile, adjusting as needed. Water your compost once a week; if you detect a foul odor, your mixture is likely too wet and you’ll need to add more brown matter. 

Not a Gardener? Donate Your Compost or Food Scraps

An alternative to using compost for your balcony or backyard garden is to donate your food scraps to a composting facility. Many cities throughout the U.S. will pick up your scraps weekly along with your trash. If you don’t have a program in your town you can find a local compost garden to contribute to. Websites like Litterless can help you find a compost program in your city. 

Co-op gardens enhance biodiversity and food security by empowering communities to grow their foods. More than 34 million people, including 13 million children, experience food insecurity in the United States, according to Feeding America – and an overwhelming 61 percent are People of Color.

Composting practices help divert organic material from landfills while creating healthier soil and improving food security for marginalized communities. It can feel intimidating to get started if you’ve never tried it before, but there’s an entire community out there ready to support you on your composting journey. Educate yourself on different methods, create a space, and decide what process will work best for you. And don’t forget to enroll in your city’s compost programs or donate to a local co-op garden. Take a small step towards empowering your community and environment by composting today. Then let us know how it’s going!

Resources:

Approaches to composting | US EPA. (2023, December 12). US EPA.

Basic Information about Landfill Gas | US EPA. (2024, March 22). US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/lmop/basic-information-about-landfill-gas

Composting 101. (2024, March 26). https://www.nrdc.org/stories/composting-101#whatis

Greicius, A. (2023, September 29). NASA sensors to help detect methane emitted by landfills - NASA. NASA.

Waxman, E., Salas, J., Gupta, P., Karpman, M., & Urban Institute. (2022). Food insecurity trended upward in midst of high inflation and fewer supports [Report].

What is Food Insecurity? | Feeding America. (n.d.). Feeding America.

Where to Compost: A State-by-State Guide — litterless. (n.d.). Litterless.