Composting is the most direct way you can impact climate change – even more so than recycling your plastic. Ready to get your hands dirty?
Worm your way in
They turn your leftovers into finished compost, says Shawn Garcia, former director of the Lower East Side Composting Project. Order 500g of worms online and put them in a metal container with moist cardboard or paper. Add scraps and in a month you’ll have compost.
Embrace your space
Find an open area that sits in direct sunlight, suggests Young. If you can, buy or build large wooden pallets to create an enclosed compost structure, then dump in your scraps as needed. Make sure you mix it regularly.
Buy a better bin
You might not have a garden to dump food waste, but you might have room for a small, electric composting bin, such as the Lomi (£499, uk.pela.earth/lomi). It does the dirty work for you while sitting pretty in your kitchen, says Young. Plus, shipping is free.
Harness plant power
Once you’ve made your compost, amp up the health of your garden by creating an enriched soil-compost mix, says Laura Young, an environmental scientist and sustainability educator. Hot tip: stir in your compost (get your hands dirty) as opposed to plopping it on top.
Plant ahead
Determine where you’ll grow plants or crops next season, then throw compost in that place – no need to be tidy with it, adds Young. Every few months, rotate and break up the soil-compost mix. Ready to plant? Rich soil is waiting.
Freeze your waste
If you don’t want to invest in a fancy bin, put
