The first step in making compost is to place some dry straw, sawdust or wood chips at the bottom of the garbage can to a depth of about 2 or 3 inches to improve drainage and help absorb moisture.
Compost can be made from most types of kitchen waste including vegetable rinds, peels and cores, stale bread or crackers, cereal, eggshells, nut shells, coffee grounds, tea bags, and moldy fruit or vegetables. Large pieces such as banana peels or melon rinds should be chopped up before adding to the compost bin. In addition to kitchen vegetable waste, yard waste such as grass clippings, dead flowers, weeds and fallen leaves, as well as paper products such as shredded newspaper and paper napkins can be added to the bin.
Do not put meat, grease, fat, bones or dairy products in the compost bin because they will smell bad when they decay, and they may attract unwanted insects or animals.
To make compost efficiently, include a mixture of "greens" (fresh plant material) and "browns" (paper, twigs and dead leaves) in the compost. Adding a shovelful of healthy garden soil to the mix is a good way to get the composting process started, since soil contains high numbers of microorganisms needed for the decomposition process. It is not necessary to add worms.
Continue to add green and brown organic waste until the compost bin is full. It is important to keep the compost moist but not too wet. Check it frequently and if it starts to dry out, sprinkle it with water and then roll the garbage can over several times to mix the contents. The compost should be mixed several times a week. If these steps are followed, rich brown compost should be ready to add to the garden within about 4-12 weeks.
