Kitchen Waste Composting

Home Composting & Plant Care

When we cook, we create waste — peels of vegetables, fruit skins, tea leaves, coffee powder. Normally, all of this goes into the dustbin. But for a gardener, this is not waste, it's gold for the soil. By composting, we can take these scraps, let them decompose, and create a nutrient-rich fertilizer for our plants.

Think of it like this: plants feed us, and in return, we feed the soil with their remains. it's a beautiful cycle.

♻️ What Can Go into Compost?

Here's what works best:

✅ Good items (they decompose easily):

  • Vegetable peels (potato, onion, carrot, etc.)
  • Fruit peels (banana, orange, apple)
  • Used tea leaves or coffee grounds
  • Eggshells (crushed)
  • Garden waste (dry leaves, grass cuttings)

❌ Avoid these (they smell or attract pests):

  • Meat, fish, oily food, dairy
  • Plastic, glass, metals (non-biodegradable)
  • Cooked food (it rots badly)

🥗 The Science in Simple Words

Composting is basically rotting in a controlled way. Microorganisms (tiny bacteria, fungi, worms) break down the waste and turn it into dark, crumbly soil that smells earthy — not rotten.

  • Green waste (wet): Fruit & veg scraps, tea leaves (rich in nitrogen).
  • Brown waste (dry): Dry leaves, paper, sawdust (rich in carbon).

👉 Tip:

For good compost, balance is key: mix greens and browns. If you only add wet scraps, it will smell bad. If you only add dry material, it will take too long.

🪣 How to Compost Kitchen Waste at Home (Simple Method)

Follow these steps:

  • Take a bucket, bin, or clay pot with holes at the bottom for airflow.
  • Put a layer of dry leaves or soil at the bottom.
  • Add kitchen waste (vegetable peels, fruit scraps).
  • Cover it with a handful of soil or dry leaves.
  • Repeat daily: waste → cover → waste → cover.
  • Stir or mix once in a week to give air.
  • After 25–40 days, the pile turns into dark, crumbly compost with an earthy smell. That's your homemade fertilizer!

🌿 Why Composting is Amazing

Here are the benefits:

  • Free fertilizer: No need to buy costly soil mixes again and again.
  • Eco-friendly: Less garbage in landfills, less pollution.
  • Healthier plants: Compost is full of good microbes, making plants stronger against diseases.
  • Soil improvement: Keeps soil soft, fluffy, and full of life.

🛑 Common Mistakes & Fixes

Avoid these issues:

  • Bad smell? → Too much wet waste. Add more dry leaves or soil.
  • Too dry and not decomposing? → Sprinkle a little water to keep it moist.
  • Fruit flies? → Always cover fresh waste with soil after adding.

✍️ Practical Exercise for You

Try this simple activity:

  • Take a small bucket or pot with holes.
  • Start adding your daily vegetable and fruit peels.
  • Cover with dry leaves or a handful of soil each time.
  • After 3–4 weeks, check — you'll see dark, earthy compost forming.
  • Use this compost in your pots and compare plant growth.