Composting sounds technical, but the basic idea is simple. You are giving food scraps and yard trimmings the air, moisture, and mix of materials they need to break down into a dark, crumbly soil amendment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency describes home composting as combining greens, browns, water, and air, and it works the same way whether you use a backyard bin or a countertop pail.
Step 1: Pick a method that fits your home
If you have a yard, a simple bin or pile works well. If you live in an apartment, you can try a small worm bin (vermicomposting) or a sealed indoor system. And if you would rather not manage any of it, a pickup service will collect your scraps for you. We cover the small-space options in our guide to composting in an apartment.
Step 2: Balance greens and browns
Greens are nitrogen-rich materials like fruit and vegetable scraps and coffee grounds. Browns are carbon-rich materials like dry leaves, shredded paper, and cardboard. A rough mix of browns to greens keeps the pile from getting too wet or smelly. Not sure what qualifies? Start with our list of acceptable food waste.
Step 3: Keep it moist and give it air
Your pile should feel about as damp as a wrung-out sponge. Turning it every week or two adds oxygen and speeds things up. Done well, a backyard pile can produce finished compost in a few months.
Prefer to skip the pile?
Composting at home is rewarding, but it is not for everyone. If you are in our service area, Torus delivers a bucket and picks up your scraps for free, then sends them to a facility for processing. You can sign up in a minute or check the cities we serve.