How to Compost for Beginners: Tips for Getting Started

It’s estimated that about 95 percent of food scraps in the US end up in landfills. “Doesn’t it just decompose in the landfill?” You might ask. Well, yes — but when food waste is left to rot in landfills, it emits the greenhouse gas methane — perpetrator of a whole host of environmental problems.

The good news is that when food scraps are composted, they don’t emit sinister gasses — in fact, composting food scraps instead of trashing them significantly reduces methane emissions from landfills, lowering the amount of personal waste each home produces.

Whether you’re chillin’ in the ‘burbs or living the high life in an apartment, we’ve got tips to help you start composting ASAP.

Continuous composter

Continuous composters are the easiest to use because they’re more low-maintenance than other compost bins. All you do is find a spot for it outdoors, toss in your compostables, and wait. Turning the food scraps helps the material compost more quickly, but it’s not necessary with this type of bin.

Batch composter

Batch composters and compost tumblers are the quickest way to get compost. Unlike continuous composters, where you’re constantly adding to the bin, batch composters require you to save up enough organic material to cook up one large batch of compost. After material is added to the tumbler, turn it five to ten times every three days. In about two weeks, you’ll have ready-to-use compost.

Worm composter

Worm composters, also called vermicompostor worm bins, are exactly what they sound like — worms, specifically red worms, are used to eat up kitchen scraps and other organic materials. The result of their “castings,” aka worm poop, is a super-rich compost that’s jam-packed with phosphorus, nitrogen, and other micronutrients.

Learn more fun and eco-friendly ways to prevent food waste with our fruit picking guide.

Choose your countertop container

Countertop bins and compost sacks made to collect kitchen scraps are a treat because they prevent odor from escaping, but in a pinch you could use anything from an empty coffee canister to a piece of tupperware.

"Cook up" compost lasagna

To keep your compost bin happy and bug-free, it requires what’s often referred to as “compost lasagna.” This is a relatively even mix of nitrogen rich wet “greens” and dry carbon rich “browns”. Greens are things like kitchen scraps and grass, while browns include egg cartons and newspaper. This dynamic duo creates an ideal environment for compost-creating microorganisms to thrive.

To make compost lasagna, put down a layer of browns, then add a layer of greens on top. That’s it! The browns also help sop up the wetness from the greens, preventing your compost bin from turning into a soupy mess.

If you have the outdoor space to devote to composting, it's as easy as 1-2-3 to getting started with composting — source your bin, set down the compost foundation, and turn.

Step 1: Choose your outdoor bin

Pick the type of compost bin you want to use — compost tumbler, premade continuous compost bin, or DIY compost bin — then figure out where you want to put it in your yard.

Step 2: Layer your compost

Start making your compost lasagna. After you’ve added the last of your food scraps, top it off with another layer of browns to keep bugs out, then put the lid on your compost bin until next time.

Step 3: Turn, baby, turn

Aeration is key for decomposition: Microbes need oxygen to survive. How often you need to turn depends on a number of factors, including the size of your compost pile. The general rule of thumb is to turn new compost every three to seven days, but some people wait four to five weeks for more mature piles. Waiting this long provides enough time for the microorganisms to heat up and start the decomposition process.

Some outdoor compost bins come with built in tumblers, but open compost piles will need to be turned over manually with a shovel or fork (not so different from tossing a salad). And if you have the space (and funds), you can invest in a multi-bin composter that allows you to turn compost from one bin to the next.

Give your home a zero-waste makeover with 6 quick tips to reduce your rubbish.

The best way to compost in an apartment is with vermicomposting (that is, letting worms break down your waste). We promise you won’t have a mass exodus of creepy crawlers parading through your pad.

Step 1: Choose your compost bin.

Drill holes into a plastic container with a lid. These act as air holes for the worms.

Step 2: Order the worms.

Not just any worms will do — only red worms are suitable for compost. Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm is a popular destination for vermicomposters looking for high-quality squiggly boys.

Step 3: Lay down the bedding.

You can purchase bedding for vermicomposting, or you can use cut up pieces of cardboard and newspaper. Whichever you choose, lay it out in an even layer so it covers the bottom of the container. Get the bedding slightly damp so that it’s wet to the touch but not sopping.

Step 4: Add the worms.

Time to add the boys! Empty your worms into the container, and cover them with more slightly damp bedding, newspaper, or cardboard. Worms don’t like light and will probably head for cover under their bedding.

Step 5: Add food scraps.

Slowly begin adding food scraps. Start with a few handfuls. If the worms eat it all, add more. If some of the scraps rot, remove them from the bin and feed the worms less. Top the scraps with more damp newspaper, then pop the lid on your worm bin and store it in a dry, dark place.

Step 6: Keep calm and compost on.

Keep adding kitchen scraps to your bin as they accumulate, but make sure there’s never more than 1/2 inch of scraps in any one spot. Always add a few browns in with your greens to keep moisture down. There’s no need to turn your vermicompost — the worms mix it enough on their own.

See how it’s done:

Don’t let apartment life stop you from having a garden. We grew an indoor microgreens kit in an NYC apartment and reported back with our (successful) findings.

These services help people who don’t have the time or space to manage their own compost systems by picking up food scraps and other compostable waste and doing the dirty work for you.

Municipal vs. industrial composting

So, home composting vs. municipal composting vs. industrial composting — what’s the diff? Municipal compost systems, such as curbside compost pick up programs, are used by some cities to collect compostables like food scraps, yard waste, and even roadkill from their communities. These collection services can pick up any home compost you aren't reusing for gardening, and these items are taken to medium-scale facilities where they’re turned into compost.

Industrial composting, aka commercial composting, is composting done on a much larger scale. Industrial composters pick up compostable waste generated by grocery stores, restaurants, green waste bins, and plant nurseries. From there, commercial composters decompose the waste under controlled conditions then prepare the compost to be sold to farms and plant nurseries.