How to Start Composting at Home (Even If You've Never Done It Before)
If composting has always felt like something for people with big gardens and a lot of spare time, it's worth reconsidering. It's one of the simplest things you can do to reduce your household waste — and it requires a lot less space, effort, and expertise than most people assume. Here's everything you need to know to get started.
What Is Composting?
Composting is the process of collecting organic materials — food scraps, yard waste, certain paper products — and allowing them to break down naturally into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. According to the EPA, compost benefits plants when added to soil, and up to 30% of what the average household throws away could be composted instead of sent to landfill.
The end product is called humus (not the dip — though it's just as useful in its own way). When added to garden beds or potted plants, humus enriches the soil, retains moisture, and creates a natural environment for the beneficial fungi and bacteria that plants need to thrive — reducing the need for chemical fertilizers in the process.
Why Bother Composting?
Everything that goes into a compost pile is one less thing taking up space in a landfill. Organic matter in landfills doesn't break down cleanly — it decomposes anaerobically, producing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Composting redirects that material into something genuinely useful instead.
It's also free. Unlike most meaningful environmental actions, composting costs nothing and produces something valuable: better soil for your garden, your houseplants, or your neighbors' raised beds.
What Can You Compost?
A healthy compost pile needs a balance of two types of material:
Brown materials (carbon-rich):
- Dead leaves and dry vegetation
- Cardboard and paper products
- Paper bags and paperboard packaging
Green materials (nitrogen-rich):
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Coffee grounds and paper filters
- Fresh grass clippings
- Eggshells
What to avoid:
- Meat, fish, and dairy (attracts pests)
- Oily or greasy food
- Diseased plants
- Pet waste
One easy place to start: your Dropps paperboard box. Because it's made from plain paperboard with no plastic coating, it can go straight into your compost pile, where it acts as a brown material and helps maintain the right carbon-to-nitrogen balance.
How to Start Composting at Home
Before setting up your own system, it's worth checking whether someone else will do the work for you. Many US cities offer curbside composting pickup, and private composting services operate in most major metro areas — meaning composting can be as simple as a third bin at the curb.
Step 1: Start small on your countertop Get a small countertop compost container and start collecting non-meat food scraps, eggshells, and coffee grounds. This builds the habit without requiring any outdoor setup.
Step 2: Choose your outdoor method When you're ready to scale up, you have two main options: a designated area in your yard, or a purchased compost bin. Bins are better for smaller spaces and help manage moisture and pests.
Step 3: Layer and maintain Add materials in layers — brown, then green, then brown. Keep the pile moist (like a wrung-out sponge), and turn it regularly to introduce oxygen and speed up decomposition. Bury new food scraps beneath the surface rather than leaving them on top.
Step 4: Wait Smaller countertop composting setups can produce usable compost in two to five weeks. Large outdoor heaps may take one to two years to fully break down into rich humus.
Troubleshooting Your Compost Pile
A well-maintained compost pile shouldn't smell bad or attract pests. If it does, one of these is usually the cause:
It smells like ammonia or rotting food Too many greens. Add brown materials — paper, dry leaves, cardboard — to restore the carbon-nitrogen balance.
It's too wet and slimy Too much moisture. Add paper or cardboard, turn the pile to introduce air, and allow it to dry out slightly before adding more green material.
It's not breaking down Either too dry, or the materials aren't mixed well enough. Greens and browns need to be in contact with each other to decompose properly. Give it a thorough turn and check the moisture level.
It's attracting pests Likely caused by meat, dairy, or oily scraps in the pile, or by food scraps left exposed on the surface. Remove any problematic materials and bury new additions deeper into the pile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to start composting at home? Start with a small countertop bin and collect non-meat food scraps, eggshells, and coffee grounds. Once you've built the habit, expand to an outdoor bin or designated yard pile where you can add paper products and yard waste.
Can you compost in an apartment? Yes — and it may be easier than you think. Many US cities now offer curbside compost pickup alongside regular trash and recycling, and private composting pickup services operate in most major metro areas for a small monthly fee. There are also neighborhood and community drop-off sites in many cities. Search "[your city] compost pickup" to see what municipal and private options are available near you. For anything not covered locally, a small countertop bin works well for everyday food scraps.
Can I compost cardboard and paper packaging? Yes, as long as it's plain cardboard or paperboard without a plastic coating, wax lining, or heavy ink. Dropps' paperboard boxes qualify — they're compostable and act as a brown material that helps balance your pile.
How long does composting take? Small countertop composting setups can produce usable compost in two to five weeks. Larger outdoor piles typically take one to two years to fully break down into finished compost.
Does compost attract pests? A properly maintained pile shouldn't. Keep meat, fish, dairy, and oily foods out of the pile, bury new additions beneath the surface, and maintain a good balance of brown and green materials.
Composting is one of those habits that feels small but compounds meaningfully over time — less waste, better soil, fewer chemicals. And if you're already choosing products with sustainable packaging, you're closer to a low-waste routine than you might think.