Hey, I’m Daley, I’m on the DoneGood team and today I wanted to talk about a question I always get from my friends, family, and DoneGood customers:
“What is the most impactful change I can make to be more sustainable?”
In addition to mindful consumption and ethical shopping, there are so many answers to this question, but some are a bit harder to achieve. For example, suggesting that my friend switch to renewable energy might not be realistic because of the upfront costs associated. And suggesting that my parents switch to a diet with fewer animal products often leads to “But I love cheese!” (I get it, we all love cheese).
But there is one hugely impactful step almost all of us can take, and that is: composting.
There Are So Many Benefits to Composting But Two Major Ones Are:
- It sends less waste to our landfills which lowers greenhouse gas emissions
- It helps enrich our soil which conserves water and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers
Let’s Take A Look At Common Myths About Composting
MYTH 1: When I throw food in the trash, it will just decompose in the landfill.
Unfortunately, when food waste is sent to landfills, it breaks down anaerobically (without oxygen), which is very different from how it would decompose when it’s composted. This anaerobic decomposition produces methane (CH₄), a super potent greenhouse gas (even worse than carbon dioxide!)
MYTH 2: Compost bins will always make my kitchen smell terrible.
If your kitchen compost bin is starting to smell, it’s often because of an imbalance in the materials. You want to maintain around a 1:3 ratio of “green” to “brown” (green = fresh food scraps like fruit peels or vegetable scraps, and brown = dry materials like cardboard or paper towels.) If you have too many greens, it can lead to a “rotten” smell from excess nitrogen. Too many browns, and the compost may take forever to break down.
So after adding kitchen scraps (like fruit/veggie peels or coffee grounds), try sprinkling some brown materials (like shredded newspaper, cardboard, dry leaves, or paper towels) on top. Brown materials help absorb moisture and reduce the chance of foul odors from excess nitrogen in your food scraps.
If your bin is still giving off an odor, it might mean your food scraps have been sitting for too long so you could try emptying it more frequently.
MYTH 3: Composting is complicated.
Just like starting anything new, composting requires a bit of up-front research. But once you find the best method for your home, composting becomes second nature. Some cities and apartment buildings offer compost pick-up services, there may be a local farm near you that accepts compost drop-offs, and if you have space outside, there are many ways to start a backyard composting setup. You can check out different composting methods here.
A great place to start is a quick online search for resources in your area. Or if you want to do a bit more research, we recommend Compost Science for Gardeners by New Society Publishers.
If your mostly concerned about what can and can not be composted, we get you – it can be confusing at first. Let's go over some of the basics.
What Can Can Be Composted and What Can't?
At first it can be tough to determine what can and can't g into the compost bin, and it does sometimes depend on what type of composting system you have. For example, an industrial composting service may be able to break down materials that your back yard compost pile would take years to. Be sure to check with your composting service, or do more research for your particular type of back yard composting technique.
This is a list of items that can almost always be composted:
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Egg shells
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Plastic-free tea bags
- Spoiled soy/rice/almond/oat/coconut milk
- Used paper napkins and paper towels
- Unwaxed cardboard pizza boxes (ripped or cut into small pieces)
- Paper bags or paper towel rolls (shredded)
- The crumbs you sweep off of the counters and floors
- Cooked pasta or rice
- Stale bread, pitas, tortillas, chips, crackers, cereal, etc.
- Cardboard boxes from cereal, pasta, etc. (Remove any plastic windows and shred)
- Cardboard egg cartons (cut up)
- Spoiled tofu and tempeh
- Dead houseplants and their soil
Here is a list of items that usually aren't good to add to your compost (especially backyard compost piles which don't typically reach a high enough temperature to break down these item. Some of these smells may also attract unwanted animals!)
- Meat, fish, and bones
- Cheese and dairy products
- Fats, oils, and grease
- Cooked food (small amounts are fine)
- Herbicide-treated plants and grass
- Aggressive weeds/weeds with seeds
- Diseased and pest-infested plants
- Treated or painted wood
- Pet waste or cat litter
- Dryer lint
- Glossy paper
- Produce stickers
What About Other Compostable Items?
You may start to notice a "Compostable" label on single use items like a coffee cup or take out food container. This is a great alternative to plastic or waxy options, but it's important to check with your local compost service before adding them to your pin.
At DoneGood, we love offering compostable alternatives to things like paper plates, straws, and cups. We also provide options for everyday products with compostable packaging like this shampoo bar, deodorant, or plastic-free tea bags.
Composting: A Habit Almost Anyone Can Make
While the journey to becoming more sustainable might feel overwhelming at times, composting is a simple, impactful change that almost anyone can make. It’s a low-cost, effective way to reduce waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improve soil health—without a major lifestyle overhaul. By starting small and understanding the basics, you can contribute to a healthier planet, whether you’re composting in your kitchen, backyard, or through local services. So, next time you’re about to toss that banana peel or coffee filter in the trash, think about starting a composting habit!
Leave a comment