Up to 30% of household waste is organic and decomposable, originating from living matter. This includes kitchen scraps like fruit and vegetable peelings, plus garden trimmings, grass clippings, prunings, leaves, and dried herbs.
Select a shaded spot for your composting area—whether it's a dedicated composter or a simple pallet bin on bare soil. The setup is flexible, but success hinges on what you add and how you manage it.
For optimal results, follow these three essential principles.
Distinguish between "green" and "brown" materials. Greens are moist and nitrogen-rich, like fresh grass clippings, uprooted weeds, sappy hedge trimmings, and kitchen scraps such as vegetable and fruit peels.
Browns are dry and carbon-rich, resembling wood or straw—think walnut shells, almond shells, pits, eggshells from the kitchen; and from the garden, dead leaves, straw, dry grass, faded flowers, and small branches (chopped small or shredded). A vegetable shredder or a U-shaped blade on a backpack brushcutter works well for this.
Aim for a 60% green to 40% brown ratio to optimize decomposition. In practice, add what you have when available. Too few browns lead to odors and poor breakdown—keep cardboard handy. Shred it into small pieces and mix it in with greens for a quick fix.
Success relies on regular aeration (turning the pile) and maintaining damp—not soggy—conditions. Water with a watering can as needed, based on weather and materials added, especially after turning. Stir monthly for best results, or at least three times a year.
Nature handles the rest. A thriving ecosystem of insects, larvae, worms, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi colonizes the pile, breaking down waste through digestion and activity. Temperatures can soar above 60°C, killing pathogens like fungal spores (powdery mildew, downy mildew, rust) and weed seeds. The heat subsides quickly, inviting more decomposers. With patience—several months—you'll have rich, forest-floor-scented compost ready to use.
Steer clear of non-biodegradables like plastic, glass, and metals. Skip bread, meat, and fish to prevent odors and attract pests like rats. Also avoid vacuum cleaner bags, household sweepings, cat litter (unless labeled biodegradable), disposable diapers, and corks. Unglazed newspaper is okay in small amounts but better recycled curbside.
Wood ash from chimneys can be added sparingly (1 kg per m³) or spread directly on garden soil (one shovelful per shrub annually). Untreated sawdust is fine; avoid chipboard or plywood.
Compost boosts plant growth and disease resistance while enhancing nutrient diffusion, soil aeration, and water retention. Environmentally, it slashes household waste volume, cutting down on collection, transport, and processing demands.
