How to compost effectively: step-by-step guide

Did you know that in Queensland, organic waste – such as food scraps or garden waste – makes up almost half of what goes into our red‑lid household bins each year?

The good news? By feeding your food scraps to the compost instead of the bin, you can transform them into something valuable – a nutrient-rich natural fertiliser that helps your pot plants, backyard veggie patches, and community gardens thrive.

When you do have some organic waste, like fruit and vegetable scraps, composting becomes your best ally. It’s natural and sustainable – reducing the amount of organic waste ending up in landfill and helping keep soils healthy.

If you’re curious about how to compost at home, we’ve outlined some super simple steps to follow that will start you off on the right foot.

What is composting?

Composting is nature’s way of recycling.

When organic matter, or in other words any plant or animal, dies and decomposes properly, you end up with the nutrient-rich material we call compost.

Compost resembles fertile garden soil, and can be used in gardening, horticulture, and farming to support plant growth.

At home, you can use compost to enhance your plants, lawn, and backyard or local neighbourhood community garden. Compost can be used as organic fertiliser, mulch for trees, or potting mix for indoor plants. You can even create a nutritious compost tea that nourishes and protects plants.

How does composting work?

When organic materials like fruit and vegetable scraps are added to a compost pile, bacteria and fungi break down these complex substances into simpler compounds.

As these microorganisms feast, they release heat as a natural by-product.

This heat is essential for the composting process to work efficiently. The rising temperatures speed up the decomposition process, killing off weed seeds and harmful pathogens that could otherwise compromise the compost. When properly managed, compost piles can reach close to 65°C!

The result is a safe-to-use compost, ideal for nourishing gardens and landscapes.

Getting started with composting

There are four key steps to consider when starting your composting journey. Follow this advice, and you'll be generating safe, rich, useful compost in no time.

1. Choose a compost option that best suits your home

Queenslanders live in many different types of homes, and our diverse communities span a range of contexts and climates – from high-density living to suburban neighbourhoods, coastal villages and regional cities, to rural towns and remote communities.

The good news is there’s a range of home composting options to suit a variety of homes – from small-space systems for apartment or unit living, to scalable options for homes with compact courtyards, spacious backyards, or large properties.

If you live in a rental or home with limited or no yard space, consider:

• Bokashi bin (also known as a bokashi bucket)
• Worm farm
• Taking your organic waste to a nearby neighbourhood or community compost hub

If your home has some yard space or you live on acreage or a large property, consider:

• Traditional compost bin
• Compost barrel or tumbler
• Smaller in-ground compost bucket or larger in-ground composting systems
• Compost heaps
• Or any of the options designed for smaller spaces

TIP: Some Queensland councils, like Brisbane City and Logan City, even have composting rebates, where you can get cash incentives for purchasing composting equipment. Check with your local council to see if your area has a similar program.

2. Choose a suitable location

Once you have chosen a composting solution that best suits your home, find a flat, well-drained spot for your compost that is semi-shaded and not right against your house (or the neighbour’s fence).

The compost should be close to your plants or garden for easy access and near your kitchen for convenience. Also, make sure there's a nearby tap or hose for watering.

A good balance of sun and shade is best, but if you must pick one, choose shade. The sun should not be the main heat source in the decomposition process; the busy microbes are. The shade will also prevent water evaporation and keep your compost bin from drying out too fast.

For people living in apartments, place your compost in a flat, semi-shaded position, like under the sink. If you decide to place your compost on a balcony or in a courtyard, keep it out of the midday sun!

3. Setting up your compost pile

Begin with a layer of small twigs, old mulch, or potting mix for good airflow and drainage. Add alternating layers of green and brown materials until the bin is about one-third to half full. Sprinkle some water after each layer to keep it moist. When layering your compost, aim for a ratio of two-parts brown material to one-part green.

Some examples of ‘green’ products – nitrogen-rich include:

• fruit or vegetable scraps
• garden trimmings and prunings
• grass clippings
• tea leaves and coffee grounds
• chicken, cow, and horse manure.

Some examples of ‘brown’ products – carbon-rich include:

• dried leaves and grass
• straw
• small twigs
• shredded paper.

Once you are happy with the pile, top it off with a layer of soil or finished compost. This helps keep in heat and moisture while also ‘activating’ the pile with microorganisms, which speeds up the composting process. Some activating materials you can use include comfrey leaves, coffee grounds, garden soil, cow, chicken, or horse manure, or worm juice.

Within a day or two, you will be able to feel the heat within the bin as the decomposition process begins.

A few additional things to keep in mind:

• Smaller items decompose faster, so chop or shred them if possible.
• Boost the breakdown process by using a diverse range of materials in your compost mix.
• Keep a heap of brown materials handy near your compost. You can use them to cover nitrogen-rich food scraps for a balanced compost pile.

4. Maintaining your compost

To maintain your compost, keep adding materials regularly, ensuring a good mix of green and brown throughout the bin.

Add air every week or two by turning the compost with a compost screw, garden fork, or a stake. The more you aerate the compost, the faster it will break down.

If the compost starts smelling, add carbon-rich (brown) materials and aerate the heap.

If your compost is dry and slow to break down, add water, some activating ingredients, and turn it more frequently.

Compost is ready when it looks like a dark, rich soil. This is called mature compost. Depending on the amount, this could take a few months. Just be sure you do not use compost before it has had a chance to fully break down. This is known as immature compost, and it will continue to heat up and could harm your plants.

Organic waste is one of the largest contributors to landfill in Queensland. By composting at home, you are helping to feed the earth, not the landfill. Your plants and the planet will thank you for it.