Composting Made Easy: A Beginner’s Guide

Composting might sound like something for expert gardeners, but it’s actually one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce waste and improve soil health. If you’ve ever thrown food scraps in the bin and felt guilty about the waste, composting is your answer. It’s easy, environmentally friendly, and a great way to give back to your community garden.

At Wao Hotel and Residences, we started simple. Left over wood nailed into a frame

Why Compost?

Every year, tonnes of food waste end up in landfill, where it releases harmful greenhouse gases. Composting helps break down food scraps naturally, turning them into nutrient-rich soil instead of waste. It keeps organic material out of landfill and provides free, natural fertilizer for your garden. Plus, it’s an easy way to be more sustainable without much effort.

We Wao Hotel and Residences we prefer simple, but you can go designer if you like.

What Goes in the Compost?

Getting started is as simple as knowing what to add:

✅ Good to Compost:

• Fruit and veggie scraps (peels, cores, offcuts)

• Coffee grounds and tea leaves

• Eggshells

• Grass clippings and leaves

• Shredded paper and cardboard (uncoated)

  
  

🚫 Keep Out of the Compost:

• Plastic, glass, or metal (compost is NOT a rubbish bin!)

• Cooked food, meat, dairy, or oily foods (they attract pests)

• Harsh chemicals or treated wood (they harm the compost)

If it's natural, put it in. If not, keep it out.

How to Participate

If your community garden has a compost system, joining in is simple. Collect your food scraps, take it to the compost bin and empty it. That’s it! The garden team will handle the rest – turning and maintaining the compost to keep it healthy.

Neighbours can also donate their food scraps that would otherwise go to waste. If you have collected leaves, or even small branches that you want to get rid of, chuck them in as well. As long as its natural and small peices, they're good to go in!

Instead of wood, metal stakes and wire can be used instead

A Small Effort, A Big Impact

Composting is one of the easiest ways to live more sustainably. With just a small habit change, you can reduce waste, help the environment, and support a thriving community garden. So why not start today? Your scraps have more to give!

Soon enough, all the garden waste will on top will turn into beautifull rich soil and plant food.