Composting

Awareness & Understanding

Did you know that about a third of what goes in your trash bin could become rich soil instead? Composting is nature's recycling — food scraps and yard waste break down into compost that feeds plants and cuts landfill waste. Watch the free YouTube video "What Is Composting?" from the SciShow channel to see how it works at the science level. Visit slc.gov and search "composting" to read about Salt Lake City's green bin curbside program — many neighborhoods already have pickup. Look in your kitchen trash today and count how many items (apple cores, coffee grounds, eggshells) could have been composted instead. You're ready for the next step when you can explain what composting is and why it matters in your own words.

Research & Investigation

Figure out which composting method fits your life. Search "composting methods comparison" on YouTube — the channel Epic Gardening has clear, beginner-friendly videos. The three main options are: backyard bin, worm bin (vermicomposting), and curbside pickup. If you live in Salt Lake City, check whether your address qualifies for the city's green bin program at slc.gov/sustainability. If you rent or live in an apartment, a small worm bin on a balcony works great. Talk to a neighbor, parent, or teacher who already composts. Write a one-paragraph comparison of two methods and pick the one that works best for where you live. You're ready for the next step when you have chosen one composting method and can explain why it fits your situation.

Planning & Preparation

Get your setup ready before you start collecting scraps. If you're doing a backyard bin, pick a shady spot at least three feet from your house. If you're using a worm bin, gather a container with a lid, shredded newspaper for bedding, and red wiggler worms (available at many local nurseries in Salt Lake City or online). Draw a simple sketch of where your compost setup will go. Make a "green and brown" checklist: greens are wet items like food scraps, and browns are dry items like cardboard and leaves. The free guide at composting101.com explains the right mix. Tell one household member your plan and get their buy-in — compost works best when everyone participates. You're ready for the next step when your setup location is chosen and your materials list is complete.

Taking Action

Start composting for real this week. Place your bin or bucket where you planned. Every day, add your food scraps — fruit peels, vegetable trimmings, coffee grounds, and eggshells all work great. Avoid meat, dairy, and oily foods. Match every food scrap layer with a layer of dry browns like torn cardboard or fallen leaves. If you have a backyard bin, turn it with a pitchfork once a week to add air. Keep a simple tally on your phone or notebook: how many cups of scraps did you add each day? After two weeks, you should see the pile shrink and feel warm in the middle — that heat means it's working. You're ready for the next step when your compost has been active for at least two weeks and you can see visible breakdown happening.

Leadership & Expansion

Share what you're learning and help others start. Create a short "how to start composting" guide — one page, simple steps, your own photos. Share it with one neighbor, classmate, or family member and help them set up their own system. If your school doesn't compost, research how to pitch a lunch-scraps compost program to your principal — the Utah Recycling Alliance (utahrecycles.org) has free school resources. Post a before-and-after photo of your compost bin to social media with #SLCCompost. Challenge one friend to try it for one week and check in with them on their progress. You're ready for the next step when at least one other person has started composting because of your encouragement.

Impact & Reflection

Look back at the full four weeks and measure what you created. Scoop out a handful of finished compost — it should be dark, crumbly, and smell like earth. Use it to feed a houseplant, a garden bed, or a neighbor's garden. Calculate how many pounds of food scraps you kept out of the landfill — the EPA estimates the average American wastes about 1 pound of food per day, so your number could be impressive. Write a one-page reflection: What was hardest? What surprised you? What will you keep doing? Share your results with one person who doubted composting was worth it. You're ready for the next step when you can show finished compost and name the environmental impact of your four weeks of effort.