Make your own compost from kitchen Waste at Home by setting up a compost bin with proper airflow and drainage.
Collect organic waste like fruit peels, vegetable scraps, and coffee grounds, and create a balanced mix of green and brown materials.
Keep the compost moist and wait for nature to work its magic – turning your kitchen waste into nutrient-rich compost for your plants.
Making compost is not only easy but also an environmentally friendly way to reduce waste and nourish your garden or indoor plants. Every day, our kitchens produce a substantial amount of waste and garbage.
Unfortunately, many people tend to dispose of this kitchen waste outside their homes without considering its proper utilization. This results in environmental damage caused by the kitchen waste we generate.
However, there is a better and more eco-friendly solution – composting! Instead of throwing away kitchen scraps, we can turn them into valuable organic manure through composting.
What are the benefits of composting kitchen waste?
Composting kitchen waste brings numerous benefits that not only help the environment but also benefit your garden and plants in exciting ways.
1. Reduces Waste – Instead of tossing kitchen scraps into the trash, composting allows you to recycle and put them to good use. By composting, you reduce the amount of waste and lessen the burden on the environment.
2. Creates Nutrient-Rich Soil – Composting transforms kitchen waste into a magical, nutrient-rich mixture that acts as a natural fertilizer for your garden. When you add this compost to the soil, it enhances its fertility and provides essential nutrients to your plants, leading to healthier growth.
3. Improves Soil Structure – Compost works wonders on the soil structure by improving its texture and water-retaining capacity. It helps sandy soil retain moisture and lightens heavy clay soil, creating a perfect balance for plants to thrive.
4. Encourages Beneficial Microorganisms – Compost is a shelter for beneficial microorganisms. These tiny workers break down the organic matter in the compost, releasing nutrients that plants can easily absorb.
5. Reduces the Need for Chemical Fertilizers – With compost enriching the soil, you’ll find yourself relying less on chemical fertilizers. This is not only better for the environment but also reduces potential harm to your plants and the beneficial creatures that inhabit your garden.
6. Boosts Plant Health – Plants grown in compost-enriched soil tend to be more resilient against diseases and pests. The natural nutrients and enhanced soil structure create a thriving environment for your plant.
7. Saves Money – Composting is not only good for nature but also for your wallet. By making your compost at home, you save on buying expensive fertilizers, making gardening more budget-friendly.
8. Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions – When organic matter decomposes in landfills, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. By composting kitchen waste, you contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.
How to Make Compost from Kitchen Waste?
Let’s see further into the details of making compost from kitchen waste –
Step – 1 Gather Kitchen Waste
Gather all the organic waste like fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, used tea bags, eggshells, and even small trimmings from herbs or vegetables. Instead of staright throwing them into the trash, set them aside in a separate container for composting.
Step – 2 Choose a Compost Bin
Now that you have your kitchen waste collection ready, it’s time to choose a compost bin. There are various options available, from commercially available compost bins to DIY versions made from old buckets, clay pots or wooden pallets. Ensure the bin has a lid to keep pests away and holes for proper airflow and drainage.
Also Read: How to use mushroom compost in raised beds?
Step – 3 Create a Compost Pile
For successful composting, you need a balance of green nitrogen-rich materials and brown carbon-rich materials. Waste from the kitchen or kitchen garbage is included in green material, while brown waste includes dry leaves, shredded newspaper, or soil. Layer the green and brown materials alternatively in the compost bin, aiming for approximately equal amounts of each.
Step – 4 Add Some Soil
To give your compost pile a jumpstart, sprinkle a handful of soil.
Step – 5 Keep it Moist
Moisture is essential for composting success. Your compost pile should be damp. Check the moisture level regularly and water the compost if it feels dry. Too much water can make the pile soggy and hinder decomposition, so find the right balance.
Composting is a natural process, and it takes time. The speed of decomposition depends on factors like the materials used, temperature, and moisture levels. Generally, composting can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 years.
What kitchen scraps can be composted?
1. Fruit and Vegetable Scraps – Almost all fruit and vegetable scraps are compost-friendly. Whether it’s the peels of apples, bananas, oranges, or the ends and trimmings of carrots, celery, or cucumbers, they can all be added to your compost bin. Even those slightly overripe fruits or veggies that you might throw away are perfect for composting.
2. Coffee Grounds and Tea Bags – Used coffee grounds and tea bags are excellent additions to your compost pile. They add valuable nitrogen to the mix, which helps in the decomposition process and contributes to nutrient-rich compost.
3. Eggshells – Rinse them, crush them into small pieces, and add them to your compost. Eggshells provide calcium and other key nutrient to the compost, which is beneficial for plant growth.
4. Paper Towels and Napkins – Paper towels and napkins that is not soiled with harsh chemicals or oils can be composted. They’re a convenient way to include more carbon-rich materials in your compost bin.
5. Dry Leaves – Fall is a great time to collect dry leaves from your garden or yard and add them to your compost. They are a rich source of carbon and help create air pockets in the compost, promoting proper aeration.
6. Shredded Newspaper – Make sure the newspaper is printed with soy-based ink and not coated or glossy, as you want to avoid harmful chemicals in your compost.
What food scraps should not be composted?
Here are some food scraps that should not be composted –
1. Meat and Dairy Products – While fruits and veggies are great for composting, it’s best to steer clear of meat, fish, and dairy products. These items can attract unwanted pests and may lead to unpleasant odours in your compost pile.
2. Oily and Greasy Foods – Foods high in oils or fats, like cooking oils, butter, and salad dressings, should be kept out of your compost. They can slow down the composting process and create an imbalanced pile.
3. Bones and Seafood Shells – Although they may seem like natural materials, bones and seafood shells are slow to break down. It’s best to avoid composting them.
4. Pet Waste – Pet waste, such as cat litter or dog poop, should never be composted. It may contain harmful bacteria and pathogens that can contaminate your compost.
5. Citrus Peels and Onions – While small amounts are generally okay, large quantities of citrus peels and onions may hinder the composting process or create an imbalance in the pH level.
6. Processed Foods and Leftovers – Processed foods like cookies, chips, or leftovers with added salt or preservatives are not ideal for composting. Stick to natural, unprocessed food scraps.
7. Cooked Food – Cooked food scraps, such as leftovers from meals, pasta, rice, or cooked vegetables, should be kept out of your compost bin. Cooked food may contain oils, salts, and seasonings that can disrupt the composting process and attract pests.
8. Rotten Food – While fruits and vegetables are great for composting, it’s essential to exclude any rotten or mouldy pieces. Rotten food can introduce harmful pathogens and unpleasant smells to your compost pile.
9. Sweets and Sugary Items – Sugary items like candies, cakes, and sweet treats are not suitable for composting.
Is kitchen waste biodegradable?
Kitchen waste is actually biodegradable which means it can naturally break down over time. Unlike those materials that stick around for centuries, kitchen waste is organic, so it eventually turns into compost and is a fantastic soil conditioner that’s rich in nutrients.
Find plenty of biodegradable items like fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, and eggshells. Now, when you put these goodies into a compost pile or bin, they start their natural decomposition journey with the help of moisture, heat, and air.
But here’s the exciting part that you can take charge and speed up the process by composting. All you need is the right mix of green and brown materials in your compost, along with the perfect conditions.
Composting not only helps your plants grow beautifully but also plays a vital role in saving the planet.
How long does it take to make homemade compost?
Making compost at home is a natural process and it will take time. Normally, it can take two weeks to two years for your compost. It depends on several factors, like the material you use, the size of your compost pile, and the weather conditions.
If you want fast results, you can try a hot compost system. It needs more attention, but it makes the compost faster. But if you’re not in a hurry, the traditional compost piles or bins work too. They might take a bit longer, especially if it’s cold outside or if you don’t have the right mix of green and brown materials.
Conclusion
Making compost from kitchen waste at home is a simple yet powerful way to contribute to a healthier planet while enriching your garden. Follow the easy steps of setting up a compost bin, collecting organic kitchen waste, and achieving a balance of “green” and “brown” materials in your compost.
Composting kitchen waste not only reduces the amount of waste but also produces nutrient-rich organic manure that promotes the healthy growth of the plant.