Composting for many Australians can seem a little challenging, messy, or may even have the reputation that it’s only for people who have a green thumb. Whilst composting is a new concept for many, new research from GLAD® has found that 45% of Aussies would like to try composting to help reduce the amount of food they waste at home.
Composting your food waste is the perfect way to give back to mother nature. Whether you live in an apartment or have a big backyard, you can create an at-home compost or get involved in composting initiatives to help protect our environment.
If you are new to composting and would like to start a composting at home, I’ve pulled together some of my top tips to help get started!
1. Choose a method and location that suits you and your home
This is an important step to take when you first start composting at home. Choosing the right location and method that best suits your home is essential to starting a compost. If you have limited space or a smaller backyard, static or tumbling compost bins are great options for you. For those who have bigger backyards, try getting a purpose-built compost pile or bay.
Looking at the type of space you have at home will determine if you need an open or closed composting system. Open composting systems are great for people who have bigger gardens; however, it is important to choose the right location in your garden or if you can incorporate your compost as part of your garden design. Closed composting systems are perfect for those who have small, urban spaces.
If you do not have a backyard or outdoor space for a compost, you can invest in an indoor compost bin which can be taken to your local council compost program to ensure your food waste is thrown away effectively – or can be easily added into your council green bin. One thing to keep in mind is that it is essential that you get clarification that you can throw your organic food waste in your green bin as not all green bins will accept this type of waste.
2. Keep the composting process going
To keep your compost thriving and healthy, it is important that you add in water, but only enough so that the contents are moist but not wet. Oxygen is also essential for your compost, as air allows your compost to breathe. Finally, you need heat to keep your compost process going, and putting your compost in a sunny place will help kill off any bacteria, harmful pathogens, or bugs.
However, keep in mind if you have a plastic compost bin, try not to keep it in the sun for too long as you may risk overheating.
3. Know what you can compost vs what you cannot
It can be tricky to understand what type of food scraps and products are compostable. When you are throwing away your food scraps, make sure you are only throwing away items that can be eaten or grown in a field or garden such as vegetables, grains, bread and fruit – they belong in your compost bin!
Products like cardboard or newspapers can also be thrown in your compost bin. If you are composting items like kitchen products check if it has the ‘AS5810 compostable logo’ like the Glad to be Green® Compostable Bake Paper, as this means they can be home composted after use. Products with the ‘AS4736 compostable logo’ can be composted with your local council program – both of which help to reduce the amount of waste headed for landfill.
You should refrain from composting items such as meat (only add to hot composting systems), oil, fat or grease, weeds that go to seed, sawdust, and animal feces. If you pop these items into your compost it can cause problems in your garden and can attracted unwanted guests.
4. Remove produce stickers from your food scraps
If you are throwing away any leftover fruits or vegetables that still have produce stickers on them, make sure you remove them before popping them in your compost. Product stickers are made of plastic which means they do not break down in the compost. This is a simple but often forgotten step that many overlook.
5. Rotate your compost
Turning your compost pile is the key to keeping it alive and thriving. If you don’t rotate your compost, it can slow down the decomposition process causing your compost to grow anaerobic bacteria. Try physically mixing your compost pile every 4-5 weeks which will help break down waste quicker. To make your job a little easier and neater, try using a closed tumbling system.
6. Get into a routine
When you first start composting at home, it can be that one extra task that may slip your mind. To ensure you are keeping up with your composting routine, try putting together a schedule of when to take your compost scraps to your bin or heap every night after dinner. Remember it is just like taking out the garbage, so you can do both at the same time. Before you know it, you’ll be a compost pro!
If you are a compost beginner, don’t stress, it takes time. These tips will help you compost smarter, keep your compost alive and healthy, and will enable you to throw your food scraps away correctly while reducing the amount of food you waste at home! If you loved these tips and want to find out more, visit the GLAD® website to learn other ways to compost smarter.
