So, You Want to Start Composting

Illustration of a blue trash bin overflowing with food waste and trash enclosed inside a translucent sphere. The sphere floats in the center against a solid light blue background.

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Before you dump your veggie peels and coffee grounds into the trash, consider the many reasons to compost. Keeping food waste out of landfills reduces greenhouse gas emissions, while nutrient-rich compost helps sequester carbon and rejuvenates soil. You’ll also likely need to empty your regular trash less frequently. For many people, the biggest barrier to composting is simply getting started.

In this episode, Wirecutter sustainability editor Katie Okamoto shares practical tips for collecting kitchen food scraps, navigating composting options without municipal pickup, and understanding what actually belongs in your bin—including why you might want to skip those biodegradable liner bags.

Plus, Wirecutter staff members break down their own real-world setups. They share how to manage commercial pickup services, why "compostable" plastics don't work in backyard bins, and strategies for keeping odors at bay.

This episode covers

  • Composting options for every space: If you don't have municipal green-bin pickup, you can use private commercial services, drop off scraps at community gardens or farmer's markets, or even try the "cardboard box method" to compost slowly inside your home.
  • Backyard composting 101: A successful pile requires a balance of "greens" (fresh food waste) and "browns" (dry leaves, paper, or cardboard).
  • Strategies for collecting food scraps: You don't need a specialized bin. Wide-mouthed mixing bowls or restaurant Cambro bins work well.
  • The freezer scrap method: Keeping a squishable storage bag in your freezer to collect veggie peels and eggshells eliminates odors, saves counter space, and makes it easy to tote scraps to a drop-off site.

Products we recommend

A bowl from this multipurpose set is freezer-safe, durable, and space-efficient, and the lids help contain odors during the day.

A stainless steel option with a replaceable charcoal filter, this bin is sleek, sturdy, easy to clean, and less expensive than similar styles. You do need to buy the right-size filters online.

If you prefer the flexibility and portability of a bag, this nylon tote is lightweight, washable, and squishable (so it can fit in the freezer).

A workhorse of professional kitchens, this low-maintenance container has a tight-fitting lid and a square base that fits efficiently into corners of the freezer, fridge, or countertop.



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