The Ultimate Guide to Efficient Home Composting

The Ultimate Guide to Efficient Home Composting

Learn how to transform your waste into valuable soil for your plants and food Discover the essentials of home composting, including what you need to get started, what to compost, and how to create nutrient-rich compost at home using various methods Explore the best compost bins to make your composting journey easier and more efficient

What do you need to start home composting?

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      composting solutions? Check out RED FACTOR Premium Compost Bin for Kitchen Countertop.

Before adding your kitchen scraps to your compost pile, it's a good idea to store them in a dedicated kitchen compost bin. For a more rustic look, consider copper bin, while if you're looking for a bin that can hold a substantial amount of compost and matches wood and silver finishes in your kitchen, wood and stainless steel bin is a great option. And if you're limited on space, bin that fits over a cabinet door is the perfect choice for you.

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      Charcoal filters

Your bin can be conveniently placed on your kitchen counter, in close proximity to where you prepare food. Utilize charcoal filters to effectively prevent any unpleasant odors resulting from decaying food waste. Alternatively, you can opt to store your compost scraps in your freezer, ensuring that they do not emit any foul smells within your kitchen area.

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What shouldn’t go in my compost bin?

To prevent the attraction of rodents and other wildlife to your outdoor compost pile, it is important to follow these guidelines.

Brown scraps, which are carbon-rich materials, should comprise a significant portion of your compost. These materials include dry leaves, small branches, plant stems, shredded wood, newspaper, coffee filters, eggshells, egg cartons, and corn stalks.

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To create healthy compost, it is important to maintain the right balance of carbon and nitrogen. Excessive nitrogen can lead to reduced airflow and result in a damp, smelly pile that cannot break down properly. It is recommended to aim for a ratio of approximately ⅓ green materials and ⅔ brown materials.

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How to layer greens and browns

Shred your browns by tearing or cutting them with scissors as much as possible before layering them in your compost to promote a light and fluffy compost body and allow oxygen and water to flow freely through your compost. This promotes aeration and decomposition.

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How to make compost at home

Heap composting

, composting using the heap method becomes a cost-effective option. No bin is needed; instead, it involves creating a pile of organic scraps directly on the ground. This approach works best when there is ample space in your yard. However, it is less suitable for those who have to share a yard with others or have limited outdoor areas.

Your heap should be positioned on a mound of soil instead of concrete, enabling earthworms, insects, and other organisms to establish colonies within it. Select a location for your heap that receives partial sunlight while ensuring that it is not situated in an area prone to standing water.


      
        
        
      B-Air Grizzly Tarps - Large Multi-Purpose

Cover your compost with a tarp to retain moisture and heat in your compost heap and prevent rain from completely soaking your compost.

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Tumblers and bins

Compost bins serve as containers for compostable materials, facilitating their decomposition. A basic compost bin consists of a sizable enclosure that accommodates both brown and green materials during the decomposition process. These bins are enclosed on the sides and top, while featuring a detachable lid for easy waste disposal. The bottom of the bin remains open, allowing the material to rest directly on the ground. 

Although simple bins are generally affordable, they can be challenging to turn and may take several months longer for the compost to fully decompose. 


      
        
        
      Outdoor Compost Tumbler Rotating Garden Composter Bin

An alternative that offers better efficiency is a compost tumbler. This composting solution features a large barrel situated on tall legs, complete with a handle that facilitates the spinning and tumbling of the waste within the composter drum. By rotating the barrel, the compost inside gets thoroughly mixed, thereby accelerating decomposition. This constant movement ensures that the microbes in the waste remain active and continuously nourished.

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Additionally, Get the sale off now The drum effectively maintains a high internal temperature, expediting the composting process and enabling year-round composting, even in colder months. These 
      
        
        
      Red wiggler worms.

Follow the provided instructions to start composting with your worm farm, as each unit may have slightly different setups. You can purchase red wiggler worms separately, which is sold by Amazon.

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      bedding, as it is usually included with your worm farm, but you also have the option to buy it separately. Worm bedding Make your worm farm a cozy habitat for your worms by evenly spreading some worm bedding on top of the bedding. Enhance their comfort and well-being with this layer of soil.

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Best home compost bins

Top compost bin


      
        
        
      Dual Chamber Tumbling Composter

Fragment

This option offers a convenient and efficient way to create compost quickly in your yard.

What you'll appreciate: The compost can be easily tumbled by turning the chamber, ensuring fast decomposition with contained heat and moisture. The bin's sturdy plastic material and tall legs also prevent wildlife, such as rodents, from accessing the compost.

What you should consider: A bit pricier than other compost bin options.

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Top compost bin for the money


      
        
        
      Geobin 216 Gallon Compost Bin

What you should be aware of: This option is cost-effective for individuals looking to create compost in their yard without the need to invest in a closed bin.

Benefits: Quick and effortless assembly, versatile usage as a standalone or ground-anchored unit, perfect for disposing of yard waste like grass clippings.

Important aspects to note: It doesn't provide critter protection, rain resistance, or heat retention; hence, covering it with a tarp is advisable to ensure optimal functionality.

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Worth considering


      
        
        
      110 Gallon Garden Composter Bin Made from Recycled Plastic

What you need to know: This bin is perfect for beginners in outdoor composting who want to keep their compost heap contained and discourage pests.

What you'll love: It's simple to assemble, features an appealing design, has ample space for all your compost, and includes a convenient bottom door for easy compost harvesting.

What you should consider: Some users have reported that this bin has thin plastic and can be eaten by wildlife.

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Get the sale off now As a writer for our website, Evelyn Waugh contributes to our singular mission of simplifying your purchasing decisions and saving you time and money. With thousands of hours dedicated to research, analysis, and product testing, our website ensures that we recommend the best picks for most consumers.