It’s a real pain to have to take the trash out. It’s messy, it smells, and it contributes to landfills. However, there is one way to reduce your garbage production drastically, that will also almost completely eliminate the problems that come with garbage: Composting!
Why is composting so great?
Composting turns food scraps into a wonderful fertilizer you can use in a garden or a pot. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S dumps about 133 billion pounds of food per year into landfills, which is about one third of the amount of food produced annually! This food waste can be drastically reduced with more composting, because it creates a natural outlet for wasted food to go, and takes as little as 3-4 weeks to decompose compared to food waste in landfills that can take up to six months.
How do I compost?
You can purchase a small inexpensive compost bin for your kitchen or if you have a couple of square feet outdoors, you can create a box outside! Some cities, such as Boulder, CO and Brooklyn, NY have free city-wide composting programs for all residents. But you don't need an organized program to compost in your home. For more info on how to get started, check out this link.
Step One: Choose a compost bin & place to put it
There are many different bins you can use to make your compost. Outside bins can be made out of plastic or wood, or you can purchase a ready-made one in a variety of different sizes and shapes. If you don't have space outside, you can buy a kitchen composter that sits right on your counter. Either way, just make sure to put it in a space that is easily accessible.
Step Two: Add the correct materials
You want to add an even amount of “green” and “brown” materials, to ensure the process runs smoothly. Green materials include: vegetable and fruits, grass, coffee grounds, weeds and hedge trimmings. Brown materials include: Leaves, hay, straw, paper, cardboard, egg shells, and teabags.
Then what?
Keep putting your food and plant waste into the compost bin. It can take anywhere from four weeks to a year to change over to dirt, depending on factors like what you put in, the temperature, and how much mixing you do. Once it turns, you can use your new dirt in potted plants, outdoor gardens, tree beds, or you can even put it in the garbage - it will be smaller volume and less smelly than rotting food would have been.
There are two ways to enter:
1. Comment below and tell us: Does composting seem like a possibility for you and your family? Or if you already compost, what are some tips or strategies that make it easy for you?
2. Tweet about the giveaway: “Entered the #SheSpeaksCompost Giveaway to win an in-home composting bin, thx to @SheSpeaksUp! bit.ly/2jEZUAQ"
*One lucky commenter or Tweeter will be chosen at random to receive a Full Circle Kitchen Composter. Giveaway is open through October 8th, 2017 to U.S. residents at least 18 years of age. Entrants must be a member of SheSpeaks. If you are not a member, click here to join. Winner will be notified by email.
We just bought our first house and I'm very excited to start composting. It always felt like a waste to throw food scraps in the trash! I started an outdoor bin but do not have a good method for saving up scraps indoors, so I would be thrilled to try out this composter. Thanks!
We store our compost bin in the freezer. That way, we can add to it and not have to worry about fruit flies or any smell (though that rarely happens). Also, when the compost melts in the outdoor bin, there is a little water added, which helps things along.
I am a recycler but have not moved towards composting yet. Would love to try this product and will let everyone know what I think of it. To compost or to not... that is the question.....
I would love to compost.
I would definitely love to compost to do more to help the planet!
Composting is definitely a possibility at my house and would be very easy to implement.
We already compost our yard stuff and if there is a way to do an in home compost that doesn't attract gnats and fruit flies, I'd love to try it!
Composting is a hobby of mine. It is easy to do and I find it easy
Yes...I would love to compost. I already save my egg shells and coffee grounds.
I have never dug deep into the art of composting, but I have thrown some eggshells and old veggies into the garden. Not sure if this is doing anything, but I would love to learn the art of composting!
My parents do compost as they have a backyard. I don't as I live in an apartment with no private outdoor space.
This sounds great and earth happy! I love doing things that give back.
I would like to compost & would have plenty of food scraps as we don't have a disposer.
I have been dying to start trying to compost. I just love the idea of garbage becoming something valuable and useful. I would love to win an in-home composter.
I would love to compost. Preferably with an outside composter so the kitchen doesn't get smelly!