According to the EPA, food scraps and yard waste together currently make up more than 30 percent of what we throw away. When these materials are sent to landfills, they take up space and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. One way to avoid sending food scraps and yard waste to landfills is by learning how to compost!
Compost is prepared by managing the aerobic decomposition of organic materials like yard debris, kitchen scraps, paper, and more.
To get started, grab one of our TerraCycleⓇ Made Compost Bins! The Compost Bin allows you to conveniently store all food scraps in your kitchen until it’s time to transfer to your outdoor composter (the lid closes to lock in odors). The best part about it? This Compost Bin is made of 50% recycled content including trash we’ve collected through TerraCycle recycling programs.
Click here to shop our TerraCycle Made Compost Bin
Remember: YES to browns/greens in your compost bin (most food waste, coffee grounds, eggshells, manures, grass, soiled napkins and paper plates, newspaper, etc.). NO to plastic, glass, metal, styrofoam, and food waste that can attract pests like meat, dairy, and oil.
When you’re ready to bring your scraps to a bigger pile, the Rodale Institute suggests raising the pile of scraps off the ground using a wood pallet and creating a thick nest of brown material inside the bin. Add your green waste to the center of the nest and then add another layer of browns so that no food is showing. Continue to alternate brown and green layers as compostables are generated and added to the pile. Brown layers should be two or three times thicker than green layers. Turn the pile at least once a year to accelerate decomposition.
Finished compost is dark brown and crumbly, there will be no recognizable compostables left, and no foul odors will be present. You can now use your compost as mulch or a component in your gardening! Bonus: you can use our plant pots made of 100% recycled materials when starting your garden, check them out here.