Composting at home isn't as hard as you might think - here's how to do it

If you decide to compost outside, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends choosing a "dry, shady spot near a water source." You can start a pile inside a bin, or you can start the scrap pile on the ground. If you choose the latter, building a small fence around the space can help control the size of the pile and keep pests at bay.

You'll definitely need a bin if you decide to compost indoors, but you can pick one up at a hardware store, order it online, or follow Apartment Therapy’s instructions and make one yourself with a container and a tray.

Composting shouldn't be an excuse to waste food, but for those times you do have some leftover peels or old eggshells, it's time to put your bin to use. Science, of course, plays an important part here.

The EPA explains that compost is comprised of three parts: brown matter, green matter, and water. Brown matter, like twigs, dead leaves, and shredded paper, add carbon to the compost. Green matter, like food scraps, tea bags, and coffee grounds, provide your compost with nitrogen. For best results, and to control smells, the Natural Resources Defense Council recommends about a 2:1 ratio of browns to greens.

Dairy products, eggs, meat, oils, and lard will all smell horrific as they rot, and they will also attract pests.

According to the EPA, pet waste can carry harmful bacteria, germs, or worse. If you're ready to toss in some diseased plants or chemically treated lawn clippings, don't. They could contaminate the entire pile.