8 Simple Steps to Compost at Home

Do you ever look at the pile of trash in your kitchen and think about discarding it in a better way? Surely, you can segregate your household waste into dry and wet waste, but what if you can achieve zero waste?

Did you know your kitchen waste can be turned into treasure?

You can dispose of your household waste while you are benefiting the environment. Sounds like a win a win situation, right?

So how do you go about disposing of your household waste in an eco-friendly method? You can easily achieve this by a simple process called composting.

What is Composting?

In simple terms, composting is a process of recycling organic waste such as yard waste and food scraps into a nutrient-rich substance called compost. Compost is rich in nutrients and can be an excellent source of fertilizer for your garden.

Make a difference: Compost at home.

Reduce landfill waste: According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, 40–50%of the total waste generated is organic and can be composted. This means that we can together significantly reduce the waste in the landfills.

Make your pocket smile: As mentioned earlier, your trash can become a treasure with the help of composting. Compost is also widely known as brown gold. Compost can be replaced by your store-bought fertilizer which can help you with gardening. You can also sell the excess compost to the farmers and it could be utilized for agricultural purposes.

Well-nourished plants: Compost is rich in nutrients and when it is used as a fertilizer, it helps the plants grow stronger and more vibrant.

Eco-friendly: Composting is one of the best ways to dispose of organic waste and reduce the burden on landfills which release harmful greenhouse gas emissions. It also helps to reduce carbon footprint.

Materials required for composting:

Composting is a simple method and will not require any expensive materials to start composting. Here are a few simple things you will need to start composting.

1. A Compost Bin: You can buy a compost bin or make your own. You can place the bin in the corner of the yard, away from direct sunlight. You can have a handmade wooden bin or a fancy tumbler. It is all up to you.

2. Kitchen Scraps: Organic waste such as leftover fruits and vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, eggshells, and more.

3. Yard Waste: Grass clippings, leaves, and small branches are great additions.

4. Water: A little water is required to keep the compost moist.

5. Air: Aeration helps the decomposition process, so turning your compost occasionally is essential.

What can be composed:

Compostable Items:

• Fruit and vegetable scraps
• Coffee grounds and filters
• Tea bags
• Eggshells
• Grass clippings
• Leaves
• Shredded newspaper and cardboard
• Sawdust (untreated wood)

Avoid Composting:

• Meat and dairy products (they attract pests)
• Fats and oils
• Diseased plants
• Pet waste
• Non-biodegradable materials

How to Compost at Home?

1. Choose a Composting Method:

You can choose from a compost pile, bin, or a tumbler. You can select a method that suits you the best.

2. Find the right spot:

Find a place with no direct sunlight and closer to a water source. Finding the right spot is important to get the compost right.

3. Add a base layer:

Start by adding a layer of coarse materials such as twigs. This will help with drainage and aeration.

4. Add Compostable Materials:

• Greens (Nitrogen-rich materials): Add kitchen scraps like fruit and vegetable peels, and coffee grounds, and green yard waste like grass clippings.
• Browns (Carbon-rich materials): Add dry leaves, shredded newspaper, cardboard, and small branches.

5. Maintain the right balance:

Maintain a balance of about three parts brown to one part green. This helps create an ideal environment for decomposition.

6. Keep it moist:

Your compost needs to be moist and not too soggy. Add water if it is too dry, and add more brown waste if it is too wet.

7. Turn your compost:

Turn your compost every few weeks to keep the pile aerated. This will speed up the decomposition and prevent odor.

8. Harvest your compost:

After a few months to a year, your compost will be ready. It should be dark, crumbly, and smell earthy. Use it to enrich your garden soil.

How to use the compost:

· Use it as mulch to suppress the growth of weeds.

· Add it to the soil as a fertilizer.

· Make compost tea to treat common plant diseases like powdery mildew.

· Feed it to potted plants to enhance old soil.

· Enrich community garden plots with compost to enhance soil fertility and support diverse plantings.

Tips to deal with problems that come along with composting:

• Bad Odor: If a bad odor is released from your compost, it is because it’s either too wet or too green. Add more brown and turn it often to keep the pile aerated.
• Pests: Avoid pests by not adding meat, dairy, and oily foods to compost.
• Slow Composting: If decomposition is slow, your pile might be too dry or need more greens. Adjust accordingly and keep turning.

Final Thoughts:

Have you thought about composting at home but could not do it? With the above-mentioned steps, you can get closer to a green tomorrow. Enjoy a greener vibrant garden.

Start your composting today and enjoy a healthier planet. Happy composting!

Do you have any composting tips or stories to share? Drop them in the comments below! Let’s grow a greener world together.

For more information about composting, follow Trashformative on Medium.