Your Guide To is a new This Week at AU feature.  

Each year, 133 billion pounds of food is wasted in this country, according to the US Department of Agriculture—enough to feed every American a meal a day for more than a year.

But according to Megan Litke, AU’s director of sustainability, who’s spearheading AU’s efforts to achieve zero waste by 2030, even small, individual actions can help take a bite out of a mounting environmental crisis.

“Each year, it’s getting easier for the average household to compost,” she said. “You have two paths: food waste can become a potent greenhouse gas, or it can reduce emissions and create nutrient-rich material.”

Food scraps that are tossed in the trash instead of a compost bin—on campus or at home—head to a landfill, which emits methane gas while the organic material decomposes. According to Reuters, landfills, which are often located in disadvantaged communities, are responsible for 11 percent of global methane emissions.

But composting can keep some of that food waste out of landfills, while improving soil health, attracting beneficial organisms, and reducing the need for pesticides. Here, Litke, herself a backyard composter, explains how to turn food scraps into a nutrient-rich feast for your plants. 

Step 1: Sort and Store 

AU’s compost goes to a facility in Prince George’s County, Maryland, that can process meat, bones, and oil because of the heat it generates to break down those scraps. Composting at home is likely limited to uncooked vegetable and fruit scraps, eggshells, and coffee grounds.

You can use a bin—a repurposed container or one purchased especially for composting—to store your scraps. Many people store food waste in the freezer because it’s easier to deal with and won’t rot. That’s a great option if you have the fridge space. 

Step 2: Dispose: Pay or the DIY Way   

If you live in an apartment or condo, check to see if your building has a compost bin. If not, you can pay a company like Compost Cab or Compost Crew to pick up your waste. Or you can drop it off at one of the 10 sites, mostly farmers markets, that Zero Waste DC partners with. DC Parks and Recreation also facilitates a community compost co-op with more than 50 critter- and odor-proof containers near the District’s community gardens. Most cities and counties in Northern Virginia and Maryland have similar options.  

Step 3: Feed Your Plants 

You may not want to tote your compost to a site. Perhaps you’ve designated a spot on your balcony for a tomato plant, or you want to do some container gardening. 

If that’s the case, mix the banana peels, apple cores, and eggshells in your compost bin with green and brown materials like leaves, paper bags, egg cartons, and even scraps of paper. Turn or stir your compost occasionally—anywhere from once a week to once a month—to aid in the breakdown. If it starts to smell, toss in some more brown material; if it’s dry, add some water. After a few months, when the chunks of organic matter disappear, the color grows darker, and the compost starts to smell like earth, it’s ready to use. 

Step 4: Let the Worms Do the Work 

If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, you can buy worms online for a process called vermicomposting. The worms feed on the compost and eventually create nutrient-rich waste for your planter. You can buy or make your own bin to keep inside or outdoors, but you must be cognizant of the temperature—if it’s too hot or too cold, the worms will likely die. If you keep the bin healthy by ensuring it has oxygen and avoiding excess moisture, it shouldn’t smell. 

Have an idea for Your Guide To? Email editor Jonathan Heeter.