A lot of leftover food is produced in the kitchen every day. Peels, kernels, eggshells, coffee grounds and leftovers from dinner fill our trash cans to the brim. Although we can simply throw away such waste, it is much better to put it to good use. Not everyone knows that they can be turned into compost not only in the garden, but also in the home. Why is it worth it? How do you compost at home? We will explain it to you.

Why compost at home?

Composting organic waste is always a better idea than throwing it away. Although we associate this process of obtaining fertilizer primarily with the garden, it can also be carried out in the home, where a lot of plant waste is generated daily. Composting at home will not only help reduce the amount of waste thrown away, but at the same time it will allow everyone – even those who do not have a garden – to get the most valuable natural fertilizer. By getting our own compost, we can stop buying expensive fertilizers, so we save a lot.

A big advantage of indoor composting is that the process takes place faster indoors than outdoors. This is, of course, caused by the higher temperature in the room. In addition, the compost in the apartment is not affected by sunlight or rain, so it ripens in conditions that we can control. The composter does not have to be big – you can hide the container under the kitchen sink, in the hallway or even place it on the kitchen counter. It is therefore a good solution even for those who do not have much space at home. If you have the opportunity, you can also have a small composter in a utility room, garage, basement or attic.

Composting your home is a great way to make use of waste that would otherwise end up in the trash. Although such an activity is beneficial for the environment and has many other advantages, it is not without disadvantages.

We must remember that the composting process takes quite a long time (several months), so it requires patience.

  • Even though the trash can is small, it still takes up some space in the house.
  • Well-prepared compost should not smell, but concerns about odors may deter some people from keeping it in the house. An unpleasant smell only arises if you make a mistake and turn the compost bin into a waste bin.
  • Doubts can also be caused by insects that flock to kitchen scraps. A suitable container with a lid will solve this problem.

What kind of waste can be composted at home?

In the kitchen, you throw away various waste every day, which can be turned into natural fertilizer. Of course, not all of them are suitable for this. In the home and in the garden, dairy products, fat, meat and bones should not be added to the compost. However, most of the waste can be successfully transformed in the home into the so-called “black gold of gardeners”, i.e. into fertilizer. What types of waste can be composted at home?

  • Leftover fruits and vegetables – husks, nests, seeds, stems;
  • coffee grounds, tea bags and paper coffee filters – staples and synthetic materials should be removed from them before composting;
  • egg shells, walnuts, peanuts, pistachios – preferably finely crushed;
  • hard bread;
  • leftover cooked rice or pasta;
  • fresh and dried herbs and spices;
  • dry leaves and green parts of plants in pots;
  • pieces of unprinted cardboard;
  • Remains of untreated broth, unsalted water after cooking vegetables, grits, pasta.

What to compost kitchen scraps in?

There are many kitchen composters on the market that will allow you to quickly recycle vegetable waste. However, such solutions are too expensive for many. Fortunately, we don’t need them at all to get fertilizer at home. We can build a good composter ourselves. Let’s prepare for its production:

  • a plastic container with a lid with a volume of, for example, 12 l,
  • drill,
  • scissors,
  • hot glue gun,
  • old stocking
  • black and white newspaper.

Of course, we should also collect kitchen scraps to fill the container. Ordinary soil for flowers will also be useful. Here is a step-by-step guide to making a composter:

  • Drill several holes in the lid of the plastic container to allow air to enter the compost (the composting process takes place in aerobic conditions);
  • Using scissors, we cut the old nylon stocking into pieces. We attach them to the holes to protect the decaying remains from fruit flies and other insects. Be careful not to block the holes with glue;
  • Pour a few centimeters of flower soil on the bottom of the container and cover it with newspaper;
  • Add crushed and mixed kitchen scraps;
  • We close the lid.

Add waste to the composter as needed. It is good to mix the compost once a week to aerate it. We must not forget that maturing compost needs moisture. For this reason, it is good to occasionally pour a little water into it (e.g. after cooking potatoes) or wet unprinted paper. However, if the compost is too wet, add dry newspaper or sawdust to it.

How do you use your home compost?

If we start composting at home in autumn or winter, already in spring we will be able to enjoy our own fertilizer, which is considered the most valuable of natural nutrients. Ripe compost can be recognized by its dark color and the smell of fresh earth. During the whole season, we can supply it to all the plants we grow in the garden, but not only that. If you don’t have your own garden, use compost that you make at home to fertilize your potted plants. It is best to add it to the soil when transplanting flowers into larger containers.

What not to compost? With these residues, you can spread the infection throughout the garden