How to Start Composting at Home
Turn kitchen scraps and garden waste into rich, crumbly compost with a simple bin and the right balance of browns and greens.
Choose a system
An open pile, a wooden bin or a closed plastic tumbler all work. Bins keep things tidy; tumblers are faster and easier to turn. Put it on bare soil in a spot you can reach easily year round.
Balance browns and greens
Mix roughly two to three parts dry 'browns' (leaves, straw, shredded cardboard) with one part wet 'greens' (vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, grass clippings). Keep it as damp as a wrung-out sponge.
Quick tips
- Chop materials small
- Turn every week or two
- Skip meat, dairy and oily food
Troubleshooting
A bad smell means too many greens or not enough air: add browns and turn. A cold, dry pile needs more greens and water. Finished compost is dark, crumbly and smells like a forest floor, usually in two to six months.
