Waste Less, Grow More: Your Guide to Home Composting

Composting is a widely offered option for disposing of specific kinds of waste that can be useful in ways that recycling and trash cannot. While often seen as a label on bins in food establishments and public spaces, compost is also something that can be managed at home to divert organic waste from landfills.

Composting is the process by which organic matter from dead plants and animals is broken down by decomposers—such as earthworms, bacteria and fungi—into nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other trace minerals. The final product is then used as a nutrient-rich fertilizer for plant growth. Read on to learn more about what can be composted, how the process works, and the materials and space necessary to begin this practice at home.

“Greens” vs. “Browns”

There are two types of organic material that are both necessary for home compost. “Greens” include food scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, and fresh plant and grass clippings that provide the nitrogen for your compost. In contrast, “browns” include dead plants, dried leaves, branches, twigs, and other items that contribute carbon to your compost. The decomposers that break things down require both nitrogen and carbon, with the ideal ratio being 3 parts brown material for every 1 part green material. While composting will still occur outside of this ratio, if your compost is too greens-heavy, it may be wetter and have a stronger odor. A browns-heavy compost may be too dry and need additional moisture added.

Air + Water

Decomposers require oxygen and moisture to do their work efficiently. Layering browns and greens and regularly tumbling bins or turning piles of compost over helps aerate and provide adequate oxygen. (This is why compostable items don’t just biodegrade on their own; they need some manipulation to introduce adequate oxygen.) While greens usually provide enough moisture for your compost, if your compost doesn’t feel like a wrung-out sponge, it may need a little water added.

What to Compost

When composting at home, the below items are recommended to include:

• Browns – small uncoated pieces of cardboard and paper, wood chips, yard trimmings, sawdust, dried leaves, hay/straw, shredded newspaper
• Greens – coffee grounds, egg shells, fruits and vegetables, nut shells, plant clippings

The following are not recommended to include in your home compost:

• Fats, grease, and oils
• Meats, bones, scraps, dairy
• Pet waste
• Plastic stickers, rubber bands, and twist ties from produce

Animal products take significantly longer to decompose and often cause a strong odor that attracts pests and wildlife during the process. However, these may be accepted by community or municipal compost operations.

Indoor vs. Outdoor Composting and Recommended Equipment

If composting outdoors, a warm shady spot is best. Compost tumbler bins—which come in various sizes—are sealed containers that allow you to collect organics and easily turn the tumbler to aerate the compost. Tumblers also maintain heat and moisture well, which can speed up the composting process.

In contrast, an open-air outdoor enclosure can also be used to collect organics, and may be more appropriate if you anticipate large amounts of compostable items. Keep in mind that an open bin may attract unwanted pests from the food scraps and requires more manual effort to turn with a shovel.

If you’d like an option to compost indoors, vermicomposting is a method that uses earthworms and can be done in a basement, garage or small container under the sink. The earthworms—ideally “red wiggler” worms—are set up in a plastic container with ventilation, drainage, and bedding such as newspaper, and they break down food scraps, turning them into nutrient-dense castings. More information about vermicomposting can be found from the NYC Department of Sanitation.

If you’re not ready to compost at home but want to redirect organics from the landfill, many communities offer compost pickup sites as well as municipal composting operations. Food scraps can be stored in the fridge or freezer until you are ready to drop them off or have them picked up, to slow spoilage and reduce odor. To learn more, below are reliable resources to help you get started:

• Composting 101 from the National Resources Defense Council
• Drop off sites or composting pick-up services are available in cities across the US, with some being free of charge. Search for your community’s waste management programs to learn more.

For a printable summary of this information, click here.