In the US, an estimated 30 to 40% of the food supply ends up as food waste. While this waste rots in landfills, releasing harmful methane gas, it could instead become nutrient-rich compost that enhances gardens and reduces your environmental footprint. Composting reduces waste while creating a fertilizer that plants love.
Composting isn’t just for homeowners with sprawling backyards either. Whether you live in a studio apartment, have a small balcony or patio, or live in a house with ample outdoor space, there’s a composting method that fits your lifestyle.
The best part? You don’t need special skills, expensive equipment, or even outdoor space to start. By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly which composting approach works for your living situation and how to begin turning your kitchen scraps into garden treasure today.
Composting Inside Your Home
This first round of options is for people whose compost options are limited to the indoors. I imagine this is primarily apartment dwellers, but it could be anyone who, for whatever reason, can’t compost outside at all.
Simply Don’t
Stay with me here, I’ll explain:
The simplest method for composting is to gather your compostable materials in a bucket and then make it someone else’s problem.
If your local government offers collection for compostables or you can find a private company that does it in your area, great!
Otherwise, you can try to find a local compost drop-off. Local governments, community gardens, and farmers’ markets may offer compost drop-off locations, but so do some “green” grocery stores, like Whole Foods. Friends or family with their own compost setups may also happily accept your compostables.
There are three main problems with this solution:
First, it’s not easy to offload for most people. At a minimum, you have to pay for pickup, and otherwise you have to haul your trash off somewhere to get rid of it — if you can even find someone to take it.
Second, you may or may not get access to the finished compost. If you’re not doing a lot of gardening and are just looking to reduce waste, that’s probably fine. But if you’re doing some indoor gardening, you might feel like you’re missing out.
Finally, you have to figure out how to manage rotting food between dumps. The easiest way to do that is to just freeze it, but that can quickly take up a lot of space. Another popular option is a dedicated bin on the counter or under the cabinet. You can buy one designed for holding food waste or make your own. You can cut the smell with charcoal filters, baking soda, or specialty compost deodorizers.
Or you can try one of these next options…
Countertop Electric Composter
Perhaps the best known of these is Lomi, but there are a ton of different versions on the market these days. Find one with good reviews and it should work for you.
Electric composters don’t truly compost, but they do shred and dehydrate scraps down to a form that smells better, is significantly smaller and lighter, and is easier to tote to local drop-offs. Kind of like a food waste mystery kibble. And they can be set to do so automatically and overnight.
Now, you can also just do this with a dehydrator and food processor for a lot cheaper, but on the other hand, it’s not automated and it’s a lot noisier. Either option works, though.
This is really handy for storing food waste until you can get rid of it in one of the ways we discussed above, and it makes the waste break down even faster and easier in a true compost.
A Bokashi Bucket
Bokashi is more of a pre-composting method that ferments the waste instead of decomposing it, but Bokashi still produces useful finished products and allows you to compost things that you can’t in traditional composting methods.
You can buy bokashi starter kits or make your own bokashi bucket.
The way it works: you add your waste, chopped down to 1- to 2-inch pieces. Then, every day or two, add about a tablespoon of bokashi bran per inch of food waste. Only open the bin to add food waste and bran. If you produce a lot of food waste, an electric composter can be handy to get more waste in there.
Once you’ve filled your bin, put it somewhere warm for at least two weeks. Keep the bin closed during this time, but use the valve at the bottom of the bucket to drain the bokashi tea (the liquid product) every couple of days.
This bokashi tea can be diluted to use to fertilize plants, added to a traditional compost to speed the composting process, or poured down drains to prevent blockages. It’s also great for the health of septic systems.
Bokashi cake, the solid product you’ll get once the bokashi bucket has finished fermenting, can be given to someone with a traditional compost or added to a vermicompost setup (in small amounts, since it’s quite acidic).
If you want to benefit from your bokashi cake more directly, it can be placed in a compost bin — or directly added to a plant pot — mixed with regular potting soil. Let it wait for two more weeks, then you can use it for indoor planting.
Vermicomposting
Okay, now we’re getting some roommates involved!
Vermicomposting — composting with worms — is one of the easiest, most straightforward ways to compost indoors. Like with bokashi composting, you can buy a starter kit or make a worm bin yourself.
Basically, you provide the worms with food and bedding (food and paper waste), they eat it, and then you collect the castings and tea, which can both be used as fertilizer.
Composting on a Balcony or Patio
Next are some options for people who have a little bit of outdoor space, but not a yard or garden. Y’all can do any of the above options, of course, but you also have a few more options available, too. However, be sure to check your local laws and/or lease before implementing any of these strategies, since those may limit your options.
Cold Composting
Cold composting is the most hands-off option for composting overall.
Basically, you pile your compostables in a bin with a little bit of compost starter (or a scoop of good dirt), and let it do its things. It won’t be as efficient as a hot compost where you worry about proportions and temperature, but maintaining a hot compost on a small scale can be very tricky anyway.
A rotary composter is probably the best way to balance ease and space when cold composting. It’s also what I’m using for my current compost setup. The legs keep larger pests out and allow easy drainage. Spinning is an easy method to turn your compost.
Even just a hardware store five gallon bucket with a few holes drilled in it for drainage and airflow can do the job. In fact, this was my first compost setup:
Again, you can combine indoor composting methods like a countertop electric composter or a bokashi bucket with your cold compost to maximize its efficiency. Making a little effort to balance your greens and browns, plus monitor your moisture levels, will also maximize productivity while minimizing odor.
And in the summer, the warmer external temperatures can help turn your cold compost hot for an extra boost in efficiency.
Just know that your compost will leak trash juice. Do with that information what you will.
Vermicomposting
Yes, we already talked about worms, but if keeping them inside doesn’t suit your fancy, you may be able to keep a vermicomposting setup out on your patio or balcony, but it is more work. You have to be careful to keep your little guys at a comfortable temperature to prevent die-off. This Reddit thread has plenty of good suggestions for keeping your worms warmer and cooler as necessary.
Composting in Your Backyard
Lucky you! Having a backyard gives you the most options for composting.
In-Ground Vermicompost Bin
Okay, one last chat about worms:
In-ground vermicomposting is the cheapest and easiest way to vermicompost. Basically, you buy or make a bucket with holes in it, dig a hole, put the bucket in the hole, and put your food waste in there. Wild worms should find the food source and move right in. Once they’ve eaten all the waste, the bin will be filled with worm castings.
Using two bins is most effective, because you can fill one while the worms finish eating the contents of the other, but just one works just fine.
Single Compost Bin
The most straightforward backyard composting approach is just one bin where you toss everything together. You can use a regular plastic bin, wooden slat bin, or a rotary composter — whatever fits your budget and aesthetic preferences.
With a single bin, you get more space to work with and more volume to hopefully increase the temperature and get into the realms of hot composting when possible.
Throw in your kitchen scraps, yard waste, and paper products as you generate them. Give it a stir, ideally every couple of days, but whenever you think about it will do. It’ll take 6 to 12 months to get finished compost, but it’s pretty low-maintenance.
The main downside is that you’re always adding new material to partially decomposed stuff. That means your compost will be ready at different times. You’ll end up sifting through to find the good stuff, but that’s not the end of the world.
Traditional Three Bin System
This is like the gold standard of composting, but it does take quite a bit of space. It’s probably not what 99% of y’all are looking for, but it’s worth mentioning anyway.
The idea is simple: one bin for fresh materials you’re adding, one bin for actively composting materials, and one bin for finished compost that’s ready to use. You rotate materials through the system as they break down.
You can build bins from wood pallets, chicken wire, or buy pre-made systems. Ideally, each bin should be at least about 3x3x3 feet: big enough to generate heat but not so big that turning becomes a nightmare.
The three-bin system lets you have a continuous supply of finished compost, and it makes it easier to maintain proper ratios of greens and browns. It’s also great if you generate a lot of yard waste in the fall and want to process it efficiently.
Just know that building and maintaining three bins is definitely more work than other methods. If you’re not sure you’ll stick with it — or don’t think you’ll produce enough waste to make it worth it — start with one bin and expand later.
Keyhole Garden
This is a clever design that combines composting with growing space, making it perfect for maximizing small backyards.
A keyhole garden is a raised circular bed with a composting basket in the center and a narrow path (the “keyhole”) leading to the center for access. You add compostable materials to the central basket, and as they break down, they feed the surrounding plants.
It’s particularly great for herbs, leafy greens, and other plants that don’t need deep root systems. The constant feeding from the compost keeps plants happy, and you’re using your space super efficiently.
You can build one with stones, bricks, or wood for the outer ring, and use wire mesh or a perforated bucket for the central compost area. The whole thing only needs to be about 6-8 feet across.
The downside is that you don’t get finished compost to use elsewhere — it all goes to feeding the keyhole garden plants. But if you’re looking to grow food in a small space, it’s hard to beat.
Other Helpful Compost Tools
Compost Thermometer: If you’re up for worrying about your compost’s temperature, a long-stemmed thermometer helps you monitor whether your pile is getting hot enough (140-160°F) to kill pathogens and seeds.
Countertop Compost Bin: Makes collecting kitchen scraps easier before you take them out to your main compost. Look for one with a charcoal filter to control odors.
Pitchfork or Compost Turner: Essential for turning larger piles. A regular pitchfork works fine, but dedicated compost turners make the job easier.
Compost Sifter: Buy one or make your own with some cheap lumber and steel mesh. This will help you filter out uncomposted chunks so you can toss them back into your compost to finish breaking down.
FAQs
Will Composting Kill Weed Seeds?
Hot composting (composting at 140°+ for several days) or bokashi composting will kill seeds. Cold composting won’t kill seeds, so avoid adding them unless you’re happy to have those plants sprouting in your garden later on.
Which Composting Method Is the Best?
There’s no single “best” method; it depends on your space, time, and goals. Vermicomposting is great for apartments, tumbler composters work well for small yards, and three-bin systems are ideal if you have lots of organic waste and space.
Can Composting Spread Diseases?
Properly managed hot composting (140-160°F) or bokashi kills most pathogens. Cold composting is slightly higher risk, but still unlikely to spread disease. Still, avoid adding diseased plants, pet waste, or raw meat products, regardless of your method, just to be safe.
What Is the Laziest Way to Compost?
Cold composting in a single bin, where you just toss stuff in and mostly ignore it. It takes longer, but it works with minimal effort.
What Is the Downside to Composting?
It takes time, can attract pests if done incorrectly, requires some space, and you have to learn what can and can’t go into your particular compost type. Some methods also require ongoing maintenance.
How Do You Start Composting for Beginners?
Start simple: even just collecting scraps for municipal pickup or a friend’s compost is better than nothing. If you want to DIY, try a small tumbler or single bin with roughly equal amounts of “green” (nitrogen) and “brown” (carbon) materials.
Is It Safe to Compost Indoors?
Yes, when done properly. Vermicomposting and bokashi are designed for indoor use and shouldn’t smell or attract pests when managed correctly.
How Do You Compost Indoors Without It Smelling?
Maintain proper moisture levels, don’t overfeed, avoid meat/dairy/oils, and ensure adequate airflow. Most indoor composting problems stem from too much moisture or the wrong types of food waste.
Can You Compost Just Yard Waste?
Sure, but it’ll be slower and less nutrient-rich than combining yard waste with kitchen scraps. Yard waste alone tends to be carbon-heavy, so it breaks down slowly without nitrogen sources.
Can You Compost If You Live in an Apartment?
Absolutely. Vermicomposting, bokashi, and electric composters all work in apartments. You can also look for municipal composting programs or community drop-off sites.
Last Words
Whether you’re working with a countertop worm bin, a balcony tumbler, or a backyard three-bin system, the best composting method is the one you’ll actually use consistently. Start with whatever fits your current living situation and comfort level. You can always expand or upgrade later.
Remember, even small-scale composting makes a difference. Those banana peels and coffee grounds heading to your compost instead of the landfill prevent methane emissions and create something useful for plants. It’s a win-win that doesn’t require perfection, just consistency.
The most important step is to just get started. Pick a method that seems doable, gather your materials, and begin turning your kitchen scraps into garden gold. Your plants (and the planet) will thank you for it.
