Turn Food Waste into Valuable Compost: A Simple Guide to Composting at Home

Did you know that Swiss households produce approximately 778,000 tons of food waste every year (BAFU)? But here’s an idea to make use of food waste you might think is useless, but it’s not! Instead of throwing away banana peels, coffee grounds, and vegetable scraps into the landfill, why not transform them into rich compost?

In simple words, composting is a natural way of recycling and returning organic matter back to the soil, where it improves soil health, allows new food to grow, and closes the loop sustainably. Composting can also help reduce methane, a potent greenhouse gas, that’s released when food is thrown away.

In addition to that, this practice creates a nutrient-dense soil for gardens, reducing or even eliminating the need for chemical fertilizers.

You don’t need a big yard or expensive equipment to start composting. In this article, you’ll find two easy step-by-step methods for composting at home, whether you live in an apartment or a house.

Let’s get tangible and practical: here’s a simple guide to make two types of compost at home

Method 1: Traditional Backyard Composting

Recommended for: Gardeners with outdoor space
Materials:

• A compost bin or simple pile
• A mix of:
  • Nitrogen-rich: vegetable scraps, fruit peels, coffee grounds, fresh grass clippings
  • Carbon-rich: dry leaves, shredded paper, cardboard, straw
• Water to keep it moist
• A shovel or pitchfork for turning

Step-by-Step:

1. Choose a spot, preferably shaded, dry, and with good drainage.
2. Layer materials: Start with carbon-rich materials, then add nitrogen-rich ones. Aim for a 3:1 carbon-to-nitrogen ratio.
3. Keep it moist, but not soggy.
4. Turn the pile every few weeks to aerate and speed up decomposition.
5. Wait 2 to 6 months. When it’s dark, earthy-smelling, and crumbly it’s ready to be used!

Note: Avoid meat, dairy, oily foods, and pet waste, as they attract pests. (EPA)

Method 2: Worm Composting (Vermicomposting)

Recommended for: Apartments or small spaces
Materials:

• A worm bin with shallow depth and good ventilation
• Red wiggler worms (Eisenia fetida)
• Bedding: shredded newspaper or coconut coir
• Food scraps: vegetables, fruits, coffee grounds

Step-by-Step:

1. Set up the bin with bedding, then add the worms.
2. Feed them scraps, burying small amounts under the bedding.
3. Keep conditions right (13–25°C), moist but not too wet.
4. Harvest compost in 3 to 6 months by separating worms from finished compost.

Worms turn waste into vermicompost, a super-rich fertilizer.

To sum up, composting is a small act with a big impact, helping reducing waste, enriching soil, and grow more food. Give one of these methods a try, and let nature do the rest!

For more information visit:

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-to-make-a-worm-composter.html

https://archive.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/tools/greenscapes/web/pdf/compost-guide.pdf