Composting is one of those things that sounds like a lot of effort until you actually start doing it — and then you wonder why you waited so long.
The concept isn't new either. Researchers have found clay tablets from the Akkadian Empire, dating back to around 2350 BC, that reference making compost for agricultural use. Most early civilisations spread manure and plant waste on fields to improve soil fertility long before anyone called it composting.
Fast forward to the early 20th century, and British botanist Sir Albert Howard is credited with pioneering the modern methods we use today.
The difference now? You don't need a farm. You just need a backyard, a balcony, or even a kitchen bench.
Why Should Australians Compost at Home?
Because the alternative is genuinely pretty grim. Every year, Australians throw away millions of tonnes of organic waste, most of which ends up in landfill where it breaks down without oxygen and produces methane — a greenhouse gas significantly more potent than CO2.
Home composting diverts that waste, enriches your garden soil with nutrients, and reduces the need for synthetic fertilisers.
It's also one of the most tangible ways to explain the concept of a circular economy to kids; watching food scraps turn into something that grows more food is hard to beat as a lesson in how nature actually works.
If you want to understand more about where composting sits in the bigger picture of sustainable choices, our blog Compostable, Recyclable, Biodegradable: Does It Really Mean Sustainable? is worth a read before you dive in.
What Composting System Should I Choose?
The right system depends on your space and how much organic waste your household generates. Here are the four most common options:
Compost Bin: Ideal for small to medium gardens. Enclosed to keep pests out and odours in, and low-maintenance once established.
Compost Tumbler: Great if you want to speed things up. The tumbling action makes it easy to aerate the pile regularly, which accelerates decomposition.
Worm Farm: Perfect for apartments or homes with limited outdoor space. Worms break down organic matter quickly and produce nutrient-rich worm castings that your plants will love.
Bokashi Bin: A compact, largely odourless option that uses fermentation to break down food scraps. Works indoors and handles things like meat and dairy that traditional composting can't.
What Can You Compost at Home?
The key to successful composting is balancing green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) materials. Aim for roughly a 50/50 mix.
Green materials (nitrogen-rich):
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- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Coffee grounds and tea bags
- Fresh grass clippings
- Plant trimmings
- Crushed eggshells
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Brown materials (carbon-rich):
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- Dry leaves
- Twigs and small branches
- Shredded paper and cardboard
- Straw and hay
- Untreated sawdust
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What to avoid:
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- Meat and dairy products
- Fats, oils, and grease
- Pet waste
- Diseased plants
- Weeds with seeds
- Glossy or coated paper
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What's the Difference Between Home Compostable and Commercially Compostable?
This is where a lot of well-meaning composters come unstuck, and it's worth knowing before you start tossing packaging into the bin.
Home compostable means a product is designed to break down in the conditions found in a typical backyard compost. Lower temperatures, less intensive management, and no industrial machinery. Look for a certified home compostable symbol on packaging before adding it to your pile.
Commercially compostable means a product requires the high temperatures and controlled conditions of an industrial composting facility to break down properly. This includes most compostable plastics, cutlery, cups, and bags. If these end up in your home compost (or worse, landfill), they won't break down the way the label implies.
Always check the certification symbol on packaging. If it says commercially compostable and you don't have access to a council composting service, the bin is unfortunately still the right call.
Tips for Successful Home Composting
1. Balance your greens and browns. Too much green makes your compost soggy and smelly. Too much brown slows everything down. Aim for that 50/50 mix and adjust as you go.
2. Aerate regularly. Turn your compost every few weeks to introduce oxygen, which speeds up decomposition and prevents it from going anaerobic (read: very smelly).
3. Keep it moist. Your compost should feel like a wrung-out sponge — damp but not dripping. Add water if it's too dry, or more brown materials if it's too wet.
4. Chop things up. Smaller pieces decompose faster. A quick chop before adding larger scraps makes a noticeable difference.
5. Layer it. Start with a base of coarse material like twigs or straw to help with airflow, then alternate layers of green and brown as you go.
Fun Ways to Get More Out of Your Compost
Compost tea: Steep a bag of finished compost in water for a few days to create a liquid fertiliser you can use directly on plants or seedlings.
Compost sifter: Build a simple sifter using mesh and timber to separate fine, ready-to-use compost from larger pieces that need more time.
Worm towers: Bury a perforated pipe filled with food scraps directly into a garden bed. Worms come up to feed and help aerate the surrounding soil in the process.
Composting FAQs
Can I compost citrus peels and onion skins?
Yes, but in moderation. They take longer to break down and can tip your compost toward acidic if added in large quantities. Chop them up and mix them well with other materials.
Can I compost weeds?
Most weeds are fine, but avoid anything that has gone to seed or is an invasive species — those can survive the composting process and spread through your garden when you use the finished compost.
How do I know when my compost is ready?
Finished compost is dark, crumbly, and smells earthy rather than rotten. It shouldn't resemble any of the original materials you put in. If in doubt, give it another few weeks.
Can You Put Toilet Paper in Your Compost?
Yes, but only if it's the right kind. Not all paper products belong in your compost pile equally. Conventional toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels are bleached with chlorine, processed with formaldehyde, and often loaded with synthetic fragrances and dyes, none of which belong in a healthy compost system, or anywhere near soil you're planning to grow food in.
Eco Cheeks bamboo toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels are unbleached and completely free from chlorine, formaldehyde, fragrances, and other nasty chemicals. That means when they end up in your compost, you're adding clean, natural bamboo fibre, not a cocktail of processing chemicals you never asked for.
A small swap that makes your compost cleaner and your garden healthier. Shop the Eco Cheeks range here.
Every Small Step Adds Up
Home composting is one of those habits that quietly makes a big difference over time. Less waste going to landfill, healthier soil in your garden, and a more conscious relationship with what your household produces and throws away.
The best part? It doesn't have to be complicated to count.
We'd love to see your composting setup! Share your tips and adventures with the Eco Cheeks community on social using #EcoCheeks.
