Non-compostable items sometimes depend on where you’re composting. For example, the EPA notes that using meat or animal bones when composting in your backyard can attract rodents, but many local pick-up or drop-off composting services allow them. Regardless of where you’re composting, you shouldn’t include human or animal waste, diseased plants, or colored or glossy paper, according to the National Resources Defense Council.
When it comes to storing compost, there’s no need to spend much, or anything, to do so at home. Simply take any large plastic bag or food storage container, fill it with your food scraps, and stick it in the freezer. Freezing the scraps will prevent them from decomposing or smelling.
“Just keeping my compost in a bag in the freezer, it keeps everything in an easy clump,” says Jones. “It doesn’t smell [and] it’s easy to transport to compost bins.”
Some farmers markets offering composting services may also give out free composting bins. You can purchase your own bin, but some come with high price tags—Jones spent about $50 on one that sits on her kitchen counter and features a charcoal filter to reduce odor. There are also uber-deluxe versions, typically costing a few hundred dollars, that actually mimic the natural composting process.
Once your compost bin is full, take your collection to a local organization that will compost it themselves. Many cities offer drop-off locations for composting; some are stationary bins with 24/7 access, while others can be found at local farmers markets. Community gardens may be interested in food scraps as well. Certain grocery store chains have compost bins at their entrances, and there are also some companies and waste management organizations that come directly to you to pick up compost scraps for a fee.