To start composting, first, choose your composter—this can be anything from a simple pile to a specialised bin. Second, gather your materials, balancing ‘greens’ like kitchen scraps with ‘browns’ like dried leaves. Third, start layering and maintain your pile by keeping it moist and turning it occasionally to aerate.
As you prepare meals, you’ll often have a collection of vegetable peels, fruit rinds, and used tea leaves. Instead of just throwing them in the bin, what if you could turn that ‘waste’ into a valuable resource? Composting is a simple, powerful way to do just that.
It might seem complicated, but it’s an easy and incredibly rewarding process. Here’s how you can get started in three simple steps.
# Step 1: Choose Your Composter (Your "Home" for Waste)
The first thing you need is a place for your compost to live. The right choice depends entirely on the amount of space you have.
- For a Yard or Garden: The easiest method is a simple, open pile in a corner of your yard. For a tidier solution, you can use a contained bin made of plastic or wood. These bins help retain heat, which speeds up the composting process, and keep it looking neat.
- For a Balcony or Small Space: You don’t need a garden to compost! A compact, multi-tiered terracotta composter (often called a khamba) is perfect for a balcony. Another great option is the Bokashi bin method, which uses a special inoculant to ferment kitchen waste in a sealed bucket right in your kitchen, producing no smell.
# Step 2: Gather Your Materials (The Perfect Recipe)
Great compost is all about balancing two types of ingredients: “Greens” and “Browns.” A good mix is crucial to create a healthy, odour-free compost pile.
“Greens” (Nitrogen-Rich)
These are the wet, fresh materials that provide nitrogen.
- What to add: Vegetable peels, fruit scraps, coffee grounds, used tea leaves, and fresh grass clippings. Think of the peels from your potatoes and other vegetables—they’re perfect “greens.”
“Browns” (Carbon-Rich)
These are the dry, woody materials that provide carbon and allow air to circulate.
- What to add: Dried leaves, twigs, shredded newspaper, torn-up cardboard (without glossy prints), and sawdust.
The Golden Ratio
Aim for a mix of roughly 2 to 3 parts Browns to 1 part Greens. This is the key to preventing your compost from getting too wet, slimy, or smelly. If it starts to smell, just add more browns!
What NOT to Compost
To avoid bad odours and attracting pests, never add the following:
- Meat, fish, or bones
- Dairy products
- Oily or greasy foods
- Pet waste
# Step 3: Layer, Water, and Wait (The Process)
Once you have your bin and know your ingredients, you’re ready to build your pile.
- Start with a Layer of Browns: Begin with a thick layer (a few inches) of browns at the very bottom. This helps with drainage and air circulation.
- Add a Layer of Greens: Add your kitchen scraps on top of the browns.
- Cover with Browns: Always finish by covering your fresh green layer with another layer of browns. This is the most important trick to prevent smells and keep fruit flies away.
- Keep it Moist: Your compost pile should be as damp as a wrung-out sponge. If it gets too dry, sprinkle it with a little water.
- Turn it (Aerate): The tiny microbes doing all the work need oxygen. Every week or two, use a small rake or a compost aerating tool to mix the pile up. This will dramatically speed up the process.
When is it ready? Depending on your method and how often you turn it, you’ll have finished compost in a few months to a year. You’ll know it’s ready when it’s dark, crumbly, and smells like rich, healthy earth.
# Conclusion: From Waste to Gold
Composting is an incredibly rewarding process. You’re actively reducing the amount of waste going to landfills (where it produces harmful methane gas), and in return, you’re creating a nutrient-rich superfood for your houseplants, balcony garden, or yard.
Start small. Begin collecting your kitchen scraps today. You’ll be surprised at how easy and satisfying it is to turn yesterday’s waste into tomorrow’s garden gold.
Saket Sambhav is the founder of WriteToWin, India’s premier environmental writing competition for school students. A legal professional and DBA candidate in sustainability, he launched WriteToWin to shift generational mindsets – empowering students to make conscious choices and protect the planet. He also mentors young eco-entrepreneurs, nurturing the next wave of climate leaders.
