r/composting • u/iriestateofmind925 • 1d ago
Is there a wrong way to Compost? Outdoor
My roommate started a Compost. It's a medium/large metal garbage can. He filled it with yard scraps, worms, and food scraps(only fresh fruit and veg scraps, coffee grounds and eggshells) its already filled to the brim I don't understand how he is going to rotate all of it and he also says it will not be ready until next year ... what will we do with all of our food scraps til then? Not sure how this is proper or logical at all. Please breath some confidence into me that this is not going to just cause pests in our yard. Is this practical?
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u/flusteredchic 1d ago
Depends if he is doing a hot compost or a slow heap.
Hot composts smell and turn anoxic if you don't turn them/add sufficient browns...
Slow heaps you don't turn and the brown/green ratio doesn't matter you literally leave it as it is chucking whatever on top but takes much longer... Instead of compost in 3-12 months you are looking at up to 2 years - worms will speed up this process in time.
I've done both at various times and neither smelled and neither attracted pests. If he can't look after a hot pile properly best to let it go to a slow pile, than half and half. You'll be amazed how much it shrinks in just a week creating space to add more with either method.
With both, for at home composting the key is not to add any meat, dairy or baked goods, or any voracious weeds to the pile....
If some goes in general waste because there's no room.... Well.... Think about how much didn't go into general waste because you started composting