Did you know one-third of the world's food is wasted? This accounts for 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

When food ends up in landfill, it rots, degrades, and emits potent greenhouse gases like methane. In Australian households, organic waste, like food, accounts for over half of what gets thrown in the bin.

As we strive towards halving our food waste by 2030 and building a more sustainable future, reducing the amount of organic waste being sent to landfill is crucial.

You can make the biggest impact by being mindful about what you buy, aiming to generate as little waste as possible. When you do have some organic waste, composting becomes your best ally. It’s natural, sustainable, and not only reduces organic waste, but allows you to utilise it.

If you’re curious about how to compost at home, we’ve outlined some super simple steps to follow that will start you off on the right foot.

What is composting?

Composting is nature’s way of recycling.

When organic matter, or in other words any plant or animal, dies and decomposes properly, you end up with the nutrient-rich material we call compost.

Compost resembles fertile garden soil, and can be used in gardening, horticulture, and farming to support plant growth.

At home, you can use compost to enhance your plants, lawn, and garden. Compost can be used as organic fertiliser, mulch for trees, or potting mix for indoor plants. You can even create a nutritious compost tea that nourishes and protects plants.

How does composting work?

When organic materials like fruit and vegetable scraps are added to a compost pile, bacteria and fungi break down these complex substances into simpler compounds.

As these microorganisms feast, they release heat as a natural by-product.

This heat is essential for the composting process to work efficiently. The rising temperatures speed up the decomposition process and kill off weed seeds and harmful pathogens that could otherwise compromise the compost. When properly managed, compost piles can reach close to 65°C!

The result is a safe-to-use compost, ideal for nourishing gardens and landscapes.

Getting started composting

Composting is like cooking.

You start off with some key ingredients - nitrogen rich ‘green’ products, and carbon rich ‘brown’ products, to create a final product. The other two critical ingredients are air and water.

The lists below advise what you can and can’t compost.

‘Green’ products – nitrogen rich:

• fruit or vegetables scraps
• garden trimmings and pruning's
• grass clippings
• tea leaves and coffee grounds
• chicken, cow, and horse manure.

‘Brown’ products – carbon rich:

• dried leaves and grass
• straw
• small twigs
• shredded paper.

AVOID adding these to your compost pile:

• meat scraps
• dairy products
• cat and dog droppings
• plastic, unless it meets the Australian Standard for Home Composting (labelled AS 5810-2010)
• vacuum cleaner dust.

1. Select a compost bin

No matter how much space you have, there is a compost bin that can work for you.

Compost bins come in all shapes and sizes, but the ones that work best are usually plastic enclosed. The size of your space should tell you what composting bin would be most suitable.

For smaller yards, raised or tumbling compost bins work well, and since they are off the ground, tend to keep rodents out. Grounded compost bins work just as well, but it’s recommended you add wire mesh under the base to deter burrowing animals.

If you have more land, you can create compost heaps or bays for different composting stages.

If you lack a yard or live in an apartment, consider using a worm farm or bokashi fermentation system instead.

TIP: Some Queensland councils, like Brisbane City and Logan City, even have composting rebates, where you can get cash incentives for purchasing composting equipment. Check with your local council to see if your area has a similar program.

2. Choose a location

Find a flat, well drained spot for your compost bin that is semi-shaded and not right against your house, or the neighbour’s fence.

The compost bin should be close to your plants or garden for easy access and near your kitchen for convenience. Also, make sure there's a nearby tap or hose for watering.

A good balance of sun and shade is best, but if you must pick one, choose shade. The sun should not be the main heat source in the decomposition process; the busy microbes are. The shade will also prevent water evaporation and keep your compost bin from drying out too fast.

These same tips apply for people living in apartments. Place your compost bin in a flat, semi-shaded position, like under the sink. If you decide to place your compost bin on a balcony or in a courtyard, keep it out of the midday sun!

Once you select your compost bin, here a few additional things to keep in mind:

• Smaller items decompose faster, so chop or shred them if possible.
• Boost the breakdown process by using a diverse range of materials in your compost mix.
• Keep a heap of brown materials handy near your compost bin. You can use them to cover nitrogen-rich food scraps for a balanced compost pile.

3. Getting started

When you first set up your compost bin, follow these steps:

1. Begin with a layer of small twigs, old mulch, or potting mix for good airflow and drainage. Add alternating layers of green and brown materials until the bin is about one-third to half full. Sprinkle some water after each layer to keep it moist. When layering your compost, aim for a ratio of two-parts brown material to one-part green.
2. Once you are happy with the pile, top it off with a layer of soil or finished compost. This helps keep in heat and moisture while also ‘activating’ the pile with microorganisms, which speeds up the composting process. Some activating materials you can use include comfrey leaves, coffee grounds, garden soil, cow, chicken, or horse manure, or worm juice.
3. Within a day or two, you will be able to feel the heat within the bin as the decomposition process begins.

4. Maintaining your compost

To maintain your compost, keep adding materials regularly, ensuring a good mix of green and brown throughout the bin.

Add air every week or two by turning the compost with a compost screw, garden fork, or a stake. The more you aerate the compost, the faster it will break down.

If the compost starts smelling, add carbon-rich (brown) materials and aerate the heap.

If your compost is dry and slow to break down, add water, some activating ingredients, and turn it more frequently.

Compost is ready when it looks like a dark, rich soil. This is called mature compost. Depending on the amount, this could take a few months. Just be sure you do not use compost before it has had a chance to fully breakdown. This is known as immature compost, and it will continue to heat up and could harm your plants.

While composting at home is a powerful tool in our efforts to reduce food waste, it is not the only solution. We are committed to playing our part as well. Our Queensland Organics Strategy outlines the 2030 targets we are aiming for:

• Halving the amount of food waste generated
• Diverting 80% of the organic material generated from landfill
• Achieving a minimum 70% recycling rate for organics.

To meet these goals, we will be expanding the number of local kerbside services available for households, and working alongside major supermarkets to reduce food waste, among other initiatives.

For a detailed list of the steps we are taking to cut down on food waste, please refer to our Queensland Organics Action Plan.