How to Start Composting at Home
Turn kitchen scraps and garden waste into free, rich soil - whatever your space. This step-by-step beginner's guide covers methods for gardens, balconies, and apartments.
Why Compost?
Food and garden waste make up a large share of household rubbish, and when it's buried in landfill it breaks down without oxygen and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Composting instead turns that "waste" into a free, nutrient-rich soil improver - cutting your bin weight, your emissions, and your spending on fertiliser all at once.
Best of all, there's a composting method for every living situation, from a large garden to a studio flat with no outdoor space at all.
What You Can and Can't Compost
Healthy compost needs a rough balance of two ingredients: nitrogen-rich "greens" and carbon-rich "browns".
Greens (nitrogen)
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Coffee grounds and tea leaves
- Fresh grass clippings
- Plant trimmings
Browns (carbon)
- Dry leaves
- Cardboard and paper (uncoated)
- Straw and woody prunings
- Sawdust from untreated wood
Avoid
- Meat, fish, and dairy (in open bins)
- Oily or cooked food
- Pet waste from carnivores
- Diseased plants and treated wood
Aim for roughly equal parts greens and browns by volume. Too many greens turn slimy and smelly; too many browns and it barely breaks down.
Choose a Method for Your Space
If you have a garden or yard
Use a simple open pile or a basic bin in a corner. Layer greens and browns, keep it about as damp as a wrung-out sponge, and turn it with a fork every week or two to add air. You'll have finished compost in two to six months.
If you live in an apartment
A worm bin (vermicomposting) is compact, odourless when run properly, and fits under a sink or on a balcony - worms turn scraps into premium "castings". Bokashi is another small-space option that ferments food waste (including cooked food) in a sealed bucket.
If you have no space at all
Freeze scraps and drop them at a community compost point or farmers' market, share a neighbour's bin, or contribute to a community garden. Many cities now offer kerbside food-scrap collection too.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
- Smells bad: Too wet or too many greens - add browns (cardboard, dry leaves) and turn it.
- Not breaking down: Too dry or too many browns - add greens and a little water.
- Fruit flies: Bury fresh scraps under a layer of browns and keep a lid or cover on.
- Pests: Avoid meat and dairy, and use an enclosed bin rather than an open pile.
For more on reducing what you throw away in the first place, see our waste & resources guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does compost take?
Anywhere from two months to a year, depending on method, climate, and how often you turn it. Turning regularly and keeping the right moisture and green/brown balance speeds it up.
Does composting smell?
Done right, finished compost smells earthy, not foul. Bad smells mean it's too wet or has too much green material - add browns and turn it.
Can I compost in a small apartment?
Yes. Worm bins and bokashi systems are compact and odourless, and many cities offer food-scrap collection or community drop-off points.
What can't go in a compost bin?
In a standard home bin, avoid meat, fish, dairy, oily cooked food, pet waste from carnivores, diseased plants, and treated wood.