Composting at Home: The Basics for Beginners

 Written By: Michelle Petkovsek

Food waste has become a huge problem in the United States. Currently, more than 35 percent of what we throw away is organic matter. Not only does this waste take up space in landfills, but it produces methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global climate change (U.S. EPA, 2020). So, what can we do? One small, easy way in which we can all repurpose our food waste and reduce our environmental footprint is through composting.

Compost is a mixture of decomposing organic matter that can be used to enrich soil (Ries, 2017). It promotes the production of beneficial bacteria in the soil, as they are needed to break down the organic materials. This process reduces our need to use fertilizers, increases soil moisture retention, and returns nutrients back to the soil so we can continue to grow more food (U.S. EPA, 2020).

Whether you have a large backyard or live in a small apartment, starting your own home compost is simple! Learn how to start your own home compost below!

What can I compost?

All compost is comprised of three basic ingredients: browns, greens, and water. Browns are carbon-containing materials that give compost its light and fluffy texture. Greens contain nitrogen and provide the necessary materials for producing enzymes. Water provides the moisture needed for waste breakdown. A healthy compost should be about half to two thirds browns and one third to one half greens. It’s helpful to alternate layers with browns and greens or mix/turn your compost to have an even composition (U.S. EPA, 2020; Cowan, 2019). Below are examples of both browns and greens:

·       Browns (carbon): branches, stems, dried leaves, peels, bits of wood, bark dust or sawdust pellets, shredded brown paper bags, corn stalks, coffee filters, coffee grounds, conifer needles, eggshells, straw, peat moss, wood ash

·       Greens (nitrogen): manures, food scraps, green lawn clippings, kitchen waste, and green leaves

It is commonly thought dairy products, meat, fish, and bones cannot be composted. Though this is not true, these foods can attract pests so, unless you are using a composter specifically designed for them, it is advised not to put them in your compost pile (Ries, 2017). Diseased or insect-ridden plants, yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides, and pet wastes should also not be thrown in the compost (U.S. EPA, 2020).

Building Your Own Composter

There are so many different ways to have your own home compost, and building your own composter is relatively simple and inexpensive, no matter what route you choose to take. Check out a few of the options below to decide which is most compatible with your lifestyle and resources.

Backyard Composting

If you frequently find yourself with leaves, grass clippings, and other yard scraps, a backyard compost might be a great option for you! All you need is a place to put the compost pile, compost material, and something to occasionally turn your compost. Follow the easy steps below to create and maintain your own backyard compost pile (U.S. EPA, 2020)!

Steps:

1.     Find a dry, shady spot (ideally near a water source) to place your compost pile or compost bin. If you want to use a bin, make sure it has holes for aeration.

2.     Add your compostable materials as they accumulate. Ensure larger pieces are chopped or shredded before adding, and moisten any dry materials until they are as wet as a damp sponge.

3.     Once you have a pile going, mix in green materials as they are added and bury fruits/vegetable scraps.

4.     Cover your compost to help it maintain moisture. You can use a tarp if your pile is on the ground or a plastic lid if you are using a compost bin.

5.     When the bottom of your compost is dark brown, it is ready to use. This can take from 2 months up to a year.

Indoor Composting

Even if you don’t have a yard, you can still have compost inside or on a small terrace! Properly managed compost will not smell or attract pests (U.S. EPA, 2020). Because those living in apartments typically do not have yard waste, a worm compost is the best option for composting mostly kitchen scraps (Cowan, 2019). The simple steps below detail how to create and maintain your own indoor compost (City of Boston, n.d.)!

Materials:

·       Two 8-10 gallon plastic bins with lids

·       Drill or tool to punch holes in the bins

·       Two blocks or bricks

·       Bedding material (shredded newspaper, brown leaves, straw, sawdust)

·       1lb red wigglers (worms)

·       Cardboard

Steps:

1.     Drill 20 evenly spaced, one-quarter inch holes in the bottom of each bin

2.     Drill one-sixteenth inch holes about 1 inch apart on the top edge of the side of each bin

3.     Drill about 30 evenly spaced, one-quarter inch holes in one of the two lids.

4.     Place bedding material at the bottom of one of the bins and moisten until it is as wet as a damp sponge.

5.     Add one pound of red wigglers (worms) to the bedding and spread out.

6.     Bury food scraps under bedding in one corner of the bin.

7.     Cover the bedding with a moistened piece of cardboard and place the lid with holes on the bin.

8.     Place the lid without holes on the ground, place two blocks or bricks on top of the lid, and place the bin with the compost on top of the blocks.

9.     Every time you add food scraps to the bin, make a new pile close to the last one, and the worms move to the new pile. You will need to continue to add more bedding as the worms eat the original material.

10  When the bin is full and contains no recognizable food scraps, new bedding material and buried food scraps can be added to the second bin. The lid can be removed from the original bin and placed on the second bin, and the second bin can be placed directly on the surface of the compost in the original bin.

11  After 1-2 months, the worms will migrate from the bottom bin to the top bin, and the compost in the bottom bin will be ready to use. The bottom bin can be removed, and the top bin placed on the blocks.

Tips:

·       Keep the bin somewhere its contents will remain moist and the temperature will be about 55 to 75° F. Basements, garages, balconies, and under kitchen counters are a few places that work well.

·       Red wigglers are the most efficient worms for composting. It is recommended to use 1 pound of worms for every square foot of space in the composter.

·       Cutting large pieces of food into smaller chunks before composting will help the worms breakdown the material faster and more easily.

Private Compost Collection Service

If you don’t feel either of the DIY home compost options are for you, many communities have curbside compost pick-up options. This method is convenient, a great way to support local businesses, and a good option if you have no use for the compost at home, but is typically more expensive.

Perennial City Composting is a home compost pick-up service in the St. Louis area. Every other week, they leave their customers with a clean bucket to fill with compostables. On pickup day, customers set their full buckets out, and the composting company swaps them with empty, clean ones. For more details, check out this link to their website: https://compost.perennial.city/

What can I do with my compost?

There are so many ways in which your finished compost can be used! Check out some of the ideas below.

• Start or maintain a backyard garden
• Use to nourish your lawn or landscaping
• Grow some houseplants
• Grow a seasonal patio garden
• Donate your compost to a local community garden, neighbors, or your building’s landscape

References

Cowan, Shannon. “How to Compost in an Apartment.” EarthEasy, 8 Mar. 2019, learn.eartheasy.com/articles/how-to-compost-in-an-apartment/.

Perennial City. “Perennial City Composting: St Louis Residential Compost Pickup.” Perennial City Composting | St Louis Residential Compost Pickup, 2017, compost.perennial.city/#about-us.

Ries, Olivia. “Composting 101.” National Geographic Education Blog, National Geographic, 16 Mar. 2017, hy2ju6vj2n.search.serialssolutions.com.ezp.slu.edu/OpenURL_local?sid=Entrez:PubMed&id=pmid:17095937.

United States Environmental Protection Agency. “Composting At Home.” EPA Environmental Topics, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 29 Oct. 2020, www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home.

“Vermi-Composting: Two Bin Method.” City of Boston, n.d.