Home composting made simple
Turn household food and garden waste into nutrient-rich compost for healthier plants naturally
Ross More
November 1, 2022
Reducing waste and creating nutrient-rich compost for your garden
Home composting is a simple and effective way to reduce household waste while creating natural fertiliser for your garden. Composting organic materials helps prevent food and garden waste from going to landfill, where it can release methane — a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
Instead, composting transforms everyday waste into nutrient-rich compost, often referred to as “black gold” by gardeners.
What home composters are available?
Closed compost bins are one of the most popular options for home composting. These are commonly large plastic bins made from recycled materials and are designed to retain heat and moisture while compost breaks down.
If space is limited, smaller tumbler-style compost bins are also available and can make turning compost easier. Many people also create DIY compost bins using old wooden pallets or spare timber.
It is worth checking whether your local council offers subsidised compost bins, as this can help reduce costs.
How to start home composting
The best location for a compost bin depends on the type you choose, but it should ideally be easy to access for adding materials and removing finished compost.
Where possible, compost bins should be placed directly onto bare soil to encourage worms and natural organisms to help break down waste. If this is not possible, layers of twigs, straw, shredded paper or existing compost can help get the process started.
What can you compost?
Many everyday organic materials can be composted at home, including:
- Dry leaves
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Eggshells
- Grass cuttings
- Plant clippings
- Weeds before they seed
- Shredded paper
- Non-glossy cardboard
- Coffee grounds
- Hair
- Untreated sawdust
A healthy compost mix should contain a balance of “green” materials, such as food scraps and grass cuttings, and “brown” materials, such as cardboard, paper, straw and dry leaves.
What should not go into compost?
Some items should be avoided in home compost bins, including:
- Meat and fish scraps
- Dairy products
- Charcoal
- Cat or dog waste
- Invasive weeds such as bindweed
These materials can attract pests, create unpleasant smells or disrupt the composting process.
Maintaining and harvesting compost
Compost should remain moist but not waterlogged. Turning compost regularly helps improve airflow and speeds up decomposition.
Healthy compost should not smell unpleasant or attract flies. If it does, it may need more brown materials such as cardboard or paper to balance the mix.
Depending on the materials used and how often it is turned, compost can take anywhere from six months to two years to fully mature.
Small changes can make a big difference
Home composting is an easy way to reduce waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions and support healthier gardens naturally.
By composting everyday food and garden waste, households can create valuable natural fertiliser while helping reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author, Ross More, and do not necessarily reflect the views of recycle-more, Valpak Limited, or any other organisation.