A Beginner’s Guide to Composting

Published on February 11, 2025

by Mia Hart

Composting is one of the most rewarding steps you can take toward a more sustainable lifestyle. It turns food scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich soil, helping to reduce landfill waste, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and improve your garden. But if you’re new to composting, it can feel a bit mysterious. What can you compost? Where do you put it? And how do you keep it from smelling? This guide is here to walk you through it all — step by step.

Step 1: Understand What Composting Is

Composting is the natural process of recycling organic material into a rich soil amendment known as compost. By combining green waste (like food scraps) with brown waste (like dried leaves), and letting nature take its course, you create a valuable material that can nourish plants and reduce your trash output.

Step 2: Choose Your Composting Method

Different households need different systems. Consider how much space and time you have when choosing a composting method:

Backyard composting: Best for those with outdoor space. Requires a bin or open pile.
Vermicomposting: Uses worms to break down food indoors. Great for apartments.
Bokashi: A fermentation process using bran. Compact and fast, suitable for indoor use.
Tumbler bins: Ideal for those wanting minimal maintenance with faster results.

Step 3: Know What You Can and Can’t Compost

A successful compost pile needs a good balance of ‘greens’ and ‘browns’:

Greens (Nitrogen-rich):

Fruit and vegetable scraps
Coffee grounds and filters
Grass clippings

Browns (Carbon-rich):

Dry leaves
Cardboard and paper
Wood chips and sawdust

Avoid:

Meat and dairy
Greasy or oily foods
Pet waste
Plastic, metal, or glass

Step 4: Set Up Your Compost Bin

Once you’ve chosen your method, set up your compost bin in a dry, shady spot. For outdoor piles, placing it directly on soil is best to allow worms and microbes to enter. Layer your greens and browns, starting with some coarse material at the bottom for airflow. If you’re using an indoor bin or tumbler, follow the manufacturer’s guidance.

Step 5: Maintain Your Compost

Maintaining compost is about balance and patience. Keep a rough ratio of 2–3 parts brown to 1 part green. Add new materials regularly, and mix or turn your pile every couple of weeks to aerate. It should feel like a wrung-out sponge — moist but not soggy.

Step 6: Know When It’s Ready

Finished compost is dark, crumbly, and smells earthy. It usually takes 2–6 months depending on the method and conditions. When ready, it can be added to garden beds, indoor plants, or used as mulch.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Adding too much green material, causing odor
Not turning or aerating the pile
Letting the pile dry out completely
Composting meat, dairy, or pet waste
Using compost before it’s fully finished

Tips for Different Lifestyles

Busy professionals: Try a countertop electric composter or bokashi bin.
Families: Set up a backyard bin and make composting a daily habit with kids.
Apartment dwellers: Vermicomposting is ideal — compact, odor-free, and fun.
Gardeners: Use compost to enrich soil, start seedlings, and reduce the need for fertilizer.

Advanced Recommendations

Collect food scraps in a freezer bin to prevent odors.
Use shredded paper or leaves to balance wet scraps.
Consider dual-bin systems for continuous composting.
Experiment with biochar or eggshells for added nutrients.
Monitor temperature if you’re composting large volumes.

Takeaway

Composting might feel like a big leap at first, but it’s one of the most impactful changes you can make at home. Whether you have a backyard or a tiny apartment, there’s a composting solution that can work for you. Start small, stay consistent, and soon you’ll be turning scraps into soil with ease.