Gardening Caring for Your Yard Compost How to Make Your Own Indoor Composting Bin Whether you live in a small apartment or a house with a yard, indoor composting is an efficient way to give back to the planet all year round. By Morgan Noll Morgan Noll Morgan Noll is the associate editor at RealSimple.com, covering finance, career, travel, and relationships. Previously, she spent two years as the editorial assistant at HelloGiggles.com, covering topics of gender, mental health, and beauty—assisting in the testing of hundreds of products for the beauty awards. She is also the former editorial apprentice of BHG.com, where she worked thoroughly on the Plant Encyclopedia and covered news and home stories. She has a passion for accurate and thoughtful representation, no matter the topic, having previously held internships in both anti-sexual violence organizations and creative advertising agencies. Morgan earned her double undergraduate degree in writing and magazine media with a concentration in women's and gender studies from Drake University. She also spent a semester studying literature and history at the University of Hyderabad in Hyderabad, India. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on June 19, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Composting kitchen scraps is a simple way to help the environment without doing much work. Store your compost bin under the sink or on the counter for easy access in the kitchen and indoor composting will quickly become part of your daily routine. We used a basic plastic container to make our indoor compost bin, but you can find ones in materials like stainless steel or bamboo if you want the bin to fit in with your decor. Make sure the container you choose has a tight lid and air holes for ventilation. Follow these steps to create your own indoor compost bin and start composting. You'll rethink the way you toss your kitchen scraps! How to Make Compost What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Container with lid Drill Hot glue gun Materials Nylon mesh screen Dirt Kitchen scraps Shredded newspapers Instructions Drill Holes in Container Lid Drill five evenly spaced holes in the lid of the container for ventilation. Air is a necessary component to help the materials in your bin break down, and these holes will help regulate airflow. 10 Compost Bins that Aren't Eyesores Add Screen Cut a piece of nylon screen big enough to cover all of the air holes. Hot glue the screen to the underside of the container lid. This will keep fruit flies and other bugs from getting in or out of the compost bin. Fill with Scraps Knowing what to put in a compost bin, and what to avoid putting in will make your composting experience far more successful. Start with dirt on the bottom and some shredded newspaper on top. Then add kitchen scraps like banana peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells every day as you cook or clean out your fridge. It's best to break or cut up these scraps into small pieces to help them decompose faster. Editor's tip: Avoid adding fats, meats, and dairy products to your compost pile as these can produce a bad odor and attract unwanted pests or rodents. Stir Stir the compost about once a week to aerate the mixture. Be sure to put the lid back on tightly to avoid attracting unwanted pests. When the compost is ready to use, you can add it to your outdoor compost pile or search for compost drop-off locations near you. Adding Compost to an Established Garden William N. Hopkins Compost Solutions Smell: If smell is holding you back from having an indoor compost bin, don't fret—smell can be controlled easier than you think. If your bin is starting to stink, add dry leaves or newspaper to your pile. This will balance the wet-dry content ratio, controlling any acidic odors. Rodents and Pests: The first step to keeping away rodents and pests is your choice of compost container. Sticking to a solid-side bin with a lid will keep unwanted critters out. Also, avoid meats, dairy, and fats in your compost bin. Slow Decomposition: Make sure you stir your pile with a hand trowel or shovel at least once a week to aerate oxygen into the mixture. Keeping small contents (such as cut-up banana peels) in the pile will also speed up the breaking-down process. Cut a piece of nylon screen big enough to cover all of the air holes. Hot glue the screen to the underside of the container lid. This will keep fruit flies and other bugs from getting in or out of the compost bin. Knowing what to put in a compost bin, and what to avoid putting in will make your composting experience far more successful. Start with dirt on the bottom and some shredded newspaper on top. Then add kitchen scraps like banana peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells every day as you cook or clean out your fridge. It's best to break or cut up these scraps into small pieces to help them decompose faster. Editor's tip: Avoid adding fats, meats, and dairy products to your compost pile as these can produce a bad odor and attract unwanted pests or rodents. Stir the compost about once a week to aerate the mixture. Be sure to put the lid back on tightly to avoid attracting unwanted pests. When the compost is ready to use, you can add it to your outdoor compost pile or search for compost drop-off locations near you. Smell: If smell is holding you back from having an indoor compost bin, don't fret—smell can be controlled easier than you think. If your bin is starting to stink, add dry leaves or newspaper to your pile. This will balance the wet-dry content ratio, controlling any acidic odors. Rodents and Pests: The first step to keeping away rodents and pests is your choice of compost container. Sticking to a solid-side bin with a lid will keep unwanted critters out. Also, avoid meats, dairy, and fats in your compost bin. Slow Decomposition: Make sure you stir your pile with a hand trowel or shovel at least once a week to aerate oxygen into the mixture. Keeping small contents (such as cut-up banana peels) in the pile will also speed up the breaking-down process.