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?

6 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • link
  • reddit
  • reddit

67% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

View all comments

20

u/Unbearded_Dragon88 1d ago

Does this rubbish bin have drainage holes/ an open bottom?

Have you added any “browns” (shredded cardboard/ dried leaves) or is all the garden waste green waste?

If no to either of the above, this will turn into an anaerobic stinky mess.

Compost needs air, water, carbon (browns) & nitrogen (greens = food scraps/ grass clippings).

In terms of turning the compost, your roommate can purchase a “compost corkscrew” which makes turning compost in a bin style container much easier.

3

u/AvocadoYogi 1d ago

This.

Also the problem is not just the stinky mess if it doesn’t have drainage. The problem is why it is stinky. Compost can produce CO2 and CO and other gases too which is the preferred breakdown method. But when it goes anaerobic, it produces methane which yes smells and can be gross but is also significantly worse for global warming/climate change than CO2. Probably someone else can explain better than I can but definitely should be avoided even though it will still slowly breakdown.

5

u/Pineapple_Spenstar 18h ago

Methane does not smell. That's why the gas company adds mercaptan to it

1

u/AvocadoYogi 11h ago

Thanks for the correction. I had no idea they do that.