# Kitchen Composting: Why Do It? - Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2016/10/kitchen-composting-waste-worm-why-do-it/ - Published: 2016-10-10T07:47:37-04:00 - Author: greenlivingguy ## Introduction We need composting of our waste waste so worms [will eat more of it](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/03/food-cycle-science-debuts-residential-indoor-composting-solution/). Period. Besides that, do you like the idea of composting your kitchen’s food waste. I guess you have no idea how to go about it. Storing your kitchen scraps and adding them to a compost bin is a wonderful way to add sustainability to your home, and getting started isn’t as complicated as you think. ## Kitchen Composting Kitchen composting gets rid of considerable food waste that would otherwise take up space in a [landfill](https://www.hgtv.com/design/outdoor-design/landscaping-and-hardscaping/composting-the-easy-way). Most kitchen waste wouldn’t rot completely because it’s contained in a trash bag and then sealed up in a landfill. These conditions prevent it from breaking down, and the nutrients that could go back into the soil end up trapped and unusable. [⌊Kitchen composting⌉⌊Kitchen composting⌉[ source HGTV Composting is a sustainable way to reduce your food waste. It takes a little effort to set up, as you’ll need an outdoor [compost](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/05/greenmarket-collections-reach-1000000-lbs-sweet/) site. Once you’ve got everything you need, however, you’ll be throwing away less trash and helping plants in your yard grow. ### What to Compost (and What not to Compost)⏎ _Do:Vegetable and fruit waste Bread, pasta, and other flour products Coffee grounds Tea leaves Grains Spices Crushed eggshells Leaves Paper towels [⌊Home composting bin⌉⌊Home composting bin⌉[ Source: Homecomposting.com _Don’t Compost:_ Meat Dairy Fish Grease or oil Pine cones or needles #### Indoors With a Pail To keep you from having to go outside every time you create food waste, start the process with a kitchen compost pail. These little pails are convenient to keep beneath your sink. They come with a lid, and you simply throw your food waste into them as you create it. Then, just empty [the kitchen scraps](http://www.homecompostingmadeeasy.com/foodscraps.html) into your outdoor compost bin when the pail starts to get full. Some people notice that gnats like the kitchen compost pail, and others start to notice an odor coming from it. Layer a wet paper towel over the contents of the pail, and that should cut down on the number of gnats and on the smell. Remember that the lid of your pail needs to fit tightly. If it’s too loose, that may be the source of your issue. #### Compost Outdoors With Worms The process of making [in-ground worm compost](https://subpod.com/) involves burying organic matter in a designated area of the garden and allowing worms to break it down into nutrient-rich compost. Worms consume organic matter, including food scraps, yard waste, and cardboard, and excrete castings high in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, all essential nutrients for plant growth. In-ground worm composting is an excellent way to improve soil health, increase plant productivity, and reduce [landfill waste](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/08/landfill-waste-doubling-methane-gas-production-to-power-denton/). When you compost with worms, you have to take more care with what you throw in the compost. Citrus fruit, onion peels, grass cuttings, leaves, and other dead plant detritus have to stay out of it. You also need to add in dry fiber, like shredded cardboard, to keep the air circulating through the compost. #### **Compost Outdoors Without Worms** Worm composting may be too involved for some homeowners, but it might be right up your alley. You can compost in a bin outdoors without worms and get good results. When you don’t have worms, the amount of waste you can compost expands to include raked leaves, grass clippings, and garden waste. Creating or buying a bin for your home compost will depend on what kind of space you have and the maintenance you have time for. Some compost techniques take longer than others. For example, trench composting requires you to bury your food waste. Download the [Home Composting app on T-Mobile’s Galaxy S7 Edge](https://www.t-mobile.com/phones-devices/samsung-galaxy-s7-edge) and connect to a great composting resource via the Uncarrier’s unbeatable network. You’ll learn about the compost bins you can make or buy, and you’ll also find countless educational resources to enrich your results. #### **What to Do With the Compost** A hand holding compost, with more compost in the background Image via Flickr by USDAgov Once you’ve created compost, you might be wondering what to do with it. Use it as soil in your garden, as lawn dressing for helping new grass grow, or around the roots of your trees. Compost is a healthy addition to your yard and other green spaces.The process of making [in-ground worm compost](https://subpod.com/) involves burying organic matter in a designated area of the garden and allowing worms to break it down into nutrient-rich compost. Worms consume organic matter, including food scraps, yard waste, and cardboard, and excrete castings high in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, all essential nutrients for plant growth. In-ground worm composting is an excellent way to improve soil health, increase plant productivity, and reduce landfill waste. **Are you ready to start composting?** Combined with good recycling, composting will significantly reduce the amount of trash your kitchen produces. Try composting, and get started on the road to a more sustainable life.