Composting food waste is impactful and convenient. It both prevents bad things and creates good things:

bad things happen when you don't compost

• organic materials that end up in landfills are buried under non-compostable trash, which prevents them from getting the oxygen they need to decompose and instead causes them to emit harmful greenhouse gasses
• my trash can is smelly and there are fruit flies in my apartment

good things happen when you compost

• organic materials that decompose under proper oxygenated conditions turn into a rich natural fertilizer
• the fruit flies are gone and my trash can is emptier than ever
• I have a fun new routine of walking to the community compost near me

here is how composting works for me (4 easy steps)

1. Collect food scraps
2. Store scraps in a container (in the freezer if smelly)
3. Drop off scraps at the community compost
4. Rinse container and start again

Depending on where you live, you may need to adjust step 3:

• If you live in a house with a yard, you can start your own compost pile or invest in a compost bin
• If you live somewhere that offers compost pick up services, you can have your compost collected at the curb
• If you don’t have a community compost nearby, you can set up a small vermicompost system that you keep indoors or on a balcony

I spent many years not composting, not because I didn’t want to compost but because I didn’t realize how convenient and worthwhile it could be. Now that I've figured out my composting logistics, I can’t imagine going back. I love composting!