Are you in DC? I use a service called Compost Cab. They pick up once a week for about $32 a month. There is also a service called Veterans' compost. I won't mess with doing it myself; I am too afraid of rats. lol

We started composting about a year ago; if you live in DC, check out this page for resources and guidance: https://zerowaste.dc.gov/homecomposting. We found the guide (linked at the bottom of the page) very helpful.

We put scraps in a tupperware container on our counter and take it out every few days; we have a non-turning bin and haven’t had any issues with animals.

If you live in DC, many of the farmer’s markets have a good waste collection location that takes your compost. We typically store ours in a countertop bin and a few Tupperware containers, and bring them to the collection site on Saturdays. We do not get soil, but the collection is free.

I just have a fenced in area with chicken wire (1.5 ft x 1.5 ft) and toss my stuff in there . I have a hole at the bottom and scrape out the compost.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I began "composting" during the pandemic and by that I mean I collect my compostables in a tabletop bin with a compostable liner and then I drop the materials at MOM's Organic Market once or twice a week as it is convenient to where I live. At this point I'm looking at starting with one of the curbside companies and seeing if I can get neighbors on my block to join in as well. Personally, I did not have it in me to start a composting operation in my back yard so that is why I have chosen this pretty easy route. Our household of four now generates a single bag of trash a week, it's amazing.

I like the idea of a curbside company. My small HOA might generate enough interest to make it cheaper.

I’m not sure I love the idea of a countertop compost bin. Are they big? Do they attract bugs/fruit flies?

I keep mine under the sink. It's not that big - about the size of a gallon of milk. It doesn't smell or attract bugs, but I also empty it every few days.

Original PP here, I have this one:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RSI-1-85-Gal-Kitchen-Caddie-Compost-Bin-RSI-MC-C7/309025875?cm_mmc=ecc-_-THD_SHIP_CONFIRMATION_STS-_-V1_M1_CA-_-Final_Unica_ClassRec2&ecc_ord=WJ18608035

I haven't had a problem with bugs or flies, but you could put it in the fridge if you have room, or under the sink as PP noted. When I started I put the full bags in the fridge, but now I just make sure to make it to MOM's every week or whenever it needs to be emptied. A huge reason that this works for me is because MOM's is so convenient and I could make it part of my weekly routine.

I keep a small pail in the fridge and bring it to the farmer's market each week. OP, not sure where you live but perhaps somewhere nearby collects it? In DC, there's at least one market in each ward that does. It's on the DOEE website.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I began "composting" during the pandemic and by that I mean I collect my compostables in a tabletop bin with a compostable liner and then I drop the materials at MOM's Organic Market once or twice a week as it is convenient to where I live. At this point I'm looking at starting with one of the curbside companies and seeing if I can get neighbors on my block to join in as well. Personally, I did not have it in me to start a composting operation in my back yard so that is why I have chosen this pretty easy route. Our household of four now generates a single bag of trash a week, it's amazing.

I like the idea of a curbside company. My small HOA might generate enough interest to make it cheaper.

I’m not sure I love the idea of a countertop compost bin. Are they big? Do they attract bugs/fruit flies?

I keep mine under the sink. It's not that big - about the size of a gallon of milk. It doesn't smell or attract bugs, but I also empty it every few days.

Anonymous wrote:I began "composting" during the pandemic and by that I mean I collect my compostables in a tabletop bin with a compostable liner and then I drop the materials at MOM's Organic Market once or twice a week as it is convenient to where I live. At this point I'm looking at starting with one of the curbside companies and seeing if I can get neighbors on my block to join in as well. Personally, I did not have it in me to start a composting operation in my back yard so that is why I have chosen this pretty easy route. Our household of four now generates a single bag of trash a week, it's amazing.

I like the idea of a curbside company. My small HOA might generate enough interest to make it cheaper.

I’m not sure I love the idea of a countertop compost bin. Are they big? Do they attract bugs/fruit flies?

You don’t really need a rotating bin. We have a small section of our backyard that is pretty much hidden. You can create a container with chicken wire. All you need to do is build a small round fence. (You really don’t have to do that, but we have dogs.). You can compost just about anything from your kitchen except meat. Coffee, egg shells, vegetable cuttings, scrapes, …. You’ll turn the compost every month or so. Super easy and you’ll have great compost to mix into your garden soil.

Anonymous wrote:I would get one you can rotate (Wirecutter and NY Magazine have good recs IIRC). You should also be aware that you can't really put in proteins (meat, fish, dairy), though I think egg shells are fine. Citrus is not good either though I don't know why. The main thing I didn't realize is that you're supposed to add a lot of "brown" matter (paper products, dried leaves, etc.), it's not just food scraps. So be prepared to deal with that.

^ I use a bin with a lid under my sink to keep scraps until I'm ready to take them out.

I began "composting" during the pandemic and by that I mean I collect my compostables in a tabletop bin with a compostable liner and then I drop the materials at MOM's Organic Market once or twice a week as it is convenient to where I live. At this point I'm looking at starting with one of the curbside companies and seeing if I can get neighbors on my block to join in as well. Personally, I did not have it in me to start a composting operation in my back yard so that is why I have chosen this pretty easy route. Our household of four now generates a single bag of trash a week, it's amazing.

I would get one you can rotate (Wirecutter and NY Magazine have good recs IIRC). You should also be aware that you can't really put in proteins (meat, fish, dairy), though I think egg shells are fine. Citrus is not good either though I don't know why. The main thing I didn't realize is that you're supposed to add a lot of "brown" matter (paper products, dried leaves, etc.), it's not just food scraps. So be prepared to deal with that.

Realized I didn't answer all of your Qs. Compost bin in your kitchen should be emptied every couple of days depending on what is in it & your personal threshold. Obviously sooner if there's something really odorous. You can also freeze your compostables altho it will slow down your process if it's a home system. I buy compostable bags & keep a compost drawer in my kitchen. Then, for my curbside bucket, I keep it in my garage or it does definitely attract animals. My outdoor tumbler is 100% animal proof & is located behind my garage, far from my home, altho I don't think it smells anyways.

If you want to home compost there will be a more limited set of things you can compost bz it won't get to a high enough temp to decompose the items (e.g. no eggshells or meat). If you do home composting, make sure you get a tumbler that you can turn & that it is rodent proof or you (& your neighbors) will be unhappy. Finished compost is good for everything green in your yard (trees, bushes, grass). You can google home composting & you will figure it out (you balance browns e.g. leaves/cardboard/paper with greens e.g. grass clippings/produce leftovers).

There are also curbside compost companies (we do this as well as the above) & they will take a much wider list of items (including bones from animal products).

GL! It's pretty satisfying to watch your trash output dramatically reduce.

But it seems complicated.

Do I get one of those turning bins? Just a big garbage can style one? How often do I take scraps from the kitchen to the bin (we don't have easy access to the backyard from the kitchen)? Do you have problems with it smelling or attracting animals?

And then -
What do you do with the compost? We've never used compost before so I'm not sure what we'd even do with it. Our yard is small and is established trees and shrubs that we only even mulch every other year.