Everything you need to know to start composting, all in one place, courtesy of the awesome folks at Learning How To Cook. What to compost, why to compost – and how to do it indoors without stinking up your apartment.

Why Compost?

The two main reasons for composting are, 1) to cut down on waste and items that end up in landfills and 2) cultivate nutritious soil for your garden or houseplants. What’s the difference between all those scraps decaying in a compost bin versus decaying in a landfill? According to Small Foot Print Family,

” When organic matter like food waste goes to the landfill, it ends up decomposing anaerobically—or without oxygen. This process creates methane, a greenhouse gas 20-35 times more potent than carbon dioxide at warming our planet. Landfills are the United States’ third largest source of methane emissions, according to the EPA.”

What to Add to Your Home Compost Bin:

• Fruit and Vegetable Scraps and peels (avoid citrus)
• Egg Shells (crushed)
• Coffee Grounds and Filters
• Tea bags & Loose Leaf Tea
• Used Paper napkins, paper towels, shredded newspaper and tissues
• Cooked pasta or rice
• Stale bread/pitas/tortillas/chips

What to Avoid:

• Meat scraps
• Fish
• Bones
• Citrus
• Pet feces (rabbit droppings are OK)
• Dairy
• Plastic

Check out this infographic from Sustainable America to get started on your home compost bin!

(read what they have to say here)