Home Composting Guide: Turn Kitchen Scraps into Garden Gold

Home Composting Guide: Turn Kitchen Scraps into Garden Gold

Composting is one of the easiest ways to reduce household waste while creating nutrient-rich soil for your garden. This guide will help you start composting kitchen scraps at home, even if you're a complete beginner!

Why Compost?

Food waste makes up about 30% of household garbage in Canada. When organic waste goes to landfills, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Composting at home:

  • Reduces your household waste by up to 30%
  • Creates free, nutrient-rich soil amendment
  • Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
  • Saves money on garbage bags and fertilizer
  • Helps your garden plants thrive naturally

What Can You Compost?

✅ Green Materials (Nitrogen-rich)

  • Fruit and vegetable scraps
  • Coffee grounds and filters
  • Tea bags (remove staples)
  • Fresh grass clippings
  • Fresh plant trimmings
  • Eggshells (crushed)

✅ Brown Materials (Carbon-rich)

  • Dry leaves
  • Shredded newspaper and cardboard
  • Paper towels and napkins
  • Sawdust and wood chips
  • Straw and hay
  • Dryer lint (from natural fibers only)

❌ Never Compost

  • Meat, fish, or poultry
  • Dairy products
  • Oils, fats, or grease
  • Pet waste
  • Diseased plants
  • Weeds with seeds
  • Glossy or coated paper
  • Treated wood

Composting Methods for Every Space

Backyard Composting

Best for: Houses with yards

What you need: Compost bin or designated area, mix of green and brown materials

How it works: Layer green and brown materials in a 1:3 ratio, turn regularly, keep moist but not soggy. Ready in 3-12 months.

Tumbler Composting

Best for: Faster results, easier turning

What you need: Compost tumbler

How it works: Add materials to tumbler, rotate every few days. Ready in 6-8 weeks with proper management.

Vermicomposting (Worm Composting)

Best for: Apartments, small spaces, year-round composting

What you need: Worm bin, red wiggler worms, bedding material

How it works: Worms eat kitchen scraps and produce nutrient-rich castings. Ready in 3-6 months.

Getting Started: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Choose Your Method

Consider your space, time commitment, and what materials you have available.

Step 2: Set Up Your System

Place your compost bin in a partially shaded area with good drainage. If using a tumbler or indoor system, choose a convenient location.

Step 3: Start Collecting Materials

Keep a small container in your kitchen for scraps. Empty it into your compost system every few days.

Step 4: Layer and Mix

Alternate green and brown materials. Aim for 1 part green to 3 parts brown materials by volume.

Step 5: Maintain Your Compost

Turn regularly, keep moist, and monitor temperature if using hot composting methods.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem: Bad Smell

Cause: Too much green material or too wet

Solution: Add Bin Breeze or brown materials, turn more frequently, ensure proper drainage

Problem: Not Breaking Down

Cause: Too much brown material or too dry

Solution: Add green materials, water lightly, turn to aerate

Problem: Pests

Cause: Wrong materials or exposed food scraps

Solution: Avoid meat/dairy, bury scraps under brown materials, use a bin with a lid

Problem: Too Slow

Cause: Pieces too large, not enough turning, wrong ratio

Solution: Chop materials smaller, turn more often, adjust green/brown ratio

Winter Composting in Canada

Don't let cold weather stop you! Here are tips for winter composting:

  • Insulate your bin with straw or leaves
  • Continue adding materials - decomposition slows but doesn't stop
  • Consider indoor vermicomposting or bokashi
  • Stockpile brown materials in fall for winter use
  • Keep a larger kitchen scrap container to reduce trips outside

Using Your Finished Compost

Your compost is ready when it's dark, crumbly, and earthy-smelling. Use it to:

  • Mix into garden soil before planting
  • Top-dress around existing plants
  • Create potting mix for containers
  • Improve lawn soil
  • Mulch around trees and shrubs

Quick Tips for Success

  • Start small - even a simple pile works
  • Keep it simple - composting happens naturally
  • Be patient - good compost takes time
  • Keep learning - every compost system is unique
  • Don't give up - troubleshoot and adjust as needed

Composting Supplies Available

Looking for composting supplies? Visit The Refillery Cochrane for:

  • Compost bins 
  • Charcoal filters
  • Bin Breeze Indoor Compost Powder, which eliminates fruit flies, neutralizes odour and soaks up moisture.

Ready to start your composting journey? Remember, every small step toward reducing waste makes a difference. Start with what you have, learn as you go, and enjoy watching your kitchen scraps transform into garden gold!

For more sustainable living tips and eco-friendly products, visit The Refillery Cochrane - your local source for zero-waste solutions!