Want to start composting but worried about space, materials, and smell? Here’s how to get started

Landfills are responsible for 20% of California’s methane, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions will be essential for the state to meet its ambitious climate goals.

One way to do your part is to compost, but there are barriers to entry: space, equipment, and perhaps most importantly, the smell and pests that often accompany composting.

As we wrap up our Climate Solutions Week this year, I wanted to highlight how easy it is to get started with composting in many cases – and I know because I just started doing it myself.

My Beginner Setup

Even though it’s now illegal to throw my food scraps in the trash, I had two good reasons not to start composting: the smell and the lack of a green bin. Living in a studio apartment in Koreatown with no outdoor space and no community composting facility made it nearly impossible for me to even consider starting.

But when my landlord finally installed a green bin—several months after the city required it, but I digress—I started looking for resources on composting, including the extensive LAist site. composting guide.

The missing piece to solve the odor problem was a simple solution: putting my compost in the freezer. Plus, it has the added benefit of keeping food scraps safe from pests.

All you need is a bag or container, either paper or plastic. In my experience, neither will cause any odors to enter your freezer as long as the contents of the bag remain frozen. Paper is certainly more durable, although clear plastic bags may be more convenient if you’re in the city. like Pasadena This requires you to put your compost in it, this way you won’t have to do anything except put the bag in the green bin.

That said, I started with a resealable Ziploc plastic bag because I was very careful not to leave any bad odors in my freezer. This is pretty self explanatory, but a pro tip: you’ll want to avoid overfilling the bag so it’s easier to empty since the contents may be frozen together.

Another tip from our climate emergency reporter Erin Stone: If you have to put your compost in plastic bags but want to reduce your waste, you can put your compost in old bread bags, which are clear enough to meet the requirements for clear plastic. Also, be aware that Ziploc bags will not meet this requirement because they are harder to open.

Improve your composting

If you’re willing to make a small investment of money or time, it won’t take much to get an even better setup.

Using compostable paper bags, a cardboard box, or a reusable plastic container would help minimize waste. (My Ziploc bags hold up well unless I overfill them, but even then I’ll probably have to replace them eventually, and that’s a waste.) Having a dedicated container is also more aesthetically appealing than a few plastic bags zipped shut in the corner of my freezer.

One option to take it to the next level would be to purchase a Tupperware-type container, but Los Angeles residents can also request a free compost bin. The city hands them out at select locations like libraries, and residents can schedule an appointment at one of the Pickup sites here.

If you’d rather try something a little more hands-on, you can break down your compost at home – the state has a few advice for you if you decide to go this route. If you don’t mind keeping a few worms, you can use a vermicomposting system.

If you notice unpleasant odors coming from your compost, here are some tips from the Los Angeles Department of Sanitation.

Inside your home:

• Use a paper towel or paper bag to line your kitchen bucket.
• Sprinkle baking soda in your kitchen bucket to reduce odors.
• Empty your kitchen bucket into your green bin regularly and just before collection day.
• Wash your kitchen bucket regularly. It is dishwasher safe.
• Wrap the smelliest items and store them in your refrigerator or freezer until collection day.

Outside your home:

• Put some garden waste in your green bin before and after adding your waste.
• Place the green bin outside for collection every week, even if it is not full.
• Rinse your green bin as needed and sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the bin.
• Call LASAN’s 24-hour Customer Service Center at 800-773-2489 for repair or replacement of broken bins.

The last step: your green bin

A crucial part of this beginner’s guide is that my building do have a green bin. Since I don’t have a garden or the will to try other methods, it was non-negotiable.

If your building is required to have a green bin and does not have one, you can contact your landlord and ask if they have requested one from the city. If some time has passed and your landlord is not cooperative, you can report it to the city by calling LA Sanitation at (800) 773-2489. Landlords who do not have a green bin can start the process by calling the LA Sanitation Customer Service Center at the same number.

You also have the option of depositing your waste in a green bin outside your home. You can deposit them at many farmers markets around town, or a neighbor with extra space in their trash can might let you use it.

If you have more questions about starting composting or the local and state laws requiring Californians to compost, check out LAist composting guide.

Find compost laws in your area

Waste carriers:

If you live in a city that isn’t on this list, try searching for “organics recycling” or “SB 1383” followed by the name of your city, county, or waste hauler.