Kitchen & Healthy Home

A Beginner's Guide to Countertop Composting (It's Way Easier Than You Think)

Written by Kay Baker, MS, OTR/L — CEO & Co-Founder • Reviewed by Matthew Keasey, Ph.D. — Chief Science Officer • Last reviewed: December 3, 2025

Transparency note: This article cites government sites, standards bodies, and peer-reviewed sources wherever possible. Educational only, not medical or legal advice.

A beginners guide to composting is the first step toward transforming your kitchen’s biggest source of waste into a powerful resource. We all know that one bag of trash in our house that's heavier, smellier, and frankly, leakier than all the others combined: the kitchen trash. It’s unavoidable, right? All those coffee grounds, banana peels, and veggie scraps have to go somewhere.

But what if their final destination wasn't the landfill? What if they could become nutrient-rich food for your garden or houseplants?

That’s the simple magic of countertop composting. And despite what you might think, it isn’t a messy, smelly, or complicated process reserved for homesteaders. It's a clean, simple system anyone can adopt.

What Exactly Is Countertop Composting?

Think of it as a special recycling bin just for your food scraps. It’s a small, tidy container that sits on your kitchen counter where you collect all your organic waste throughout the week. Instead of going into the trash to rot in a landfill (where it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas), these scraps are held until you can take them to a place where they can properly decompose.

It’s about diverting waste at the source.

Getting Started: The Two Things You Actually Need

Feeling overwhelmed already? Don't be. You only need two things to start.

1. A Countertop Bin: Don’t just use any old bowl. A proper composting bin is designed for this job. Look for one with a tight-fitting lid to keep pests out and, most critically, carbon filters in the lid to neutralize any potential odors.

2. A Plan for the Scraps: Your countertop bin is a temporary holding station. You need a final destination. This could be a larger outdoor compost pile, a local municipal composting program (many cities now offer this!), or even a donation to a community garden. A quick search for "compost drop-off near me" might surprise you.

What Goes In? The "Yes" List and the "No" List

This is the most common point of confusion, but it’s actually very simple.

The YES List (Green & Brown Materials):

The YES List (Green & Brown Materials):

• Fruit and vegetable scraps

• Eggshells (crushed)

• Coffee grounds and paper filters

• Tea bags (staples removed)

• Stale bread or crackers

• Nutshells

• Paper towels and napkins

The NO List (Things to Avoid):

• Meat, Fish, and Bones: These can cause odors and attract pests.

• Dairy Products (Cheese, Milk, Yogurt): Same as above.

• Greasy or Oily Foods: Oils can disrupt the moisture balance of a compost pile.

• Pet Waste: This can contain harmful pathogens.

• "Compostable" Plastics (usually): While well-intentioned, many "compostable" forks or cups can only be broken down in high-heat industrial facilities, not your backyard pile. When in doubt, leave them out.

Let’s Debunk Some Myths

• Myth #1: "It will make my kitchen smell." Nope. Not if you have a good bin. The carbon filter in the lid is specifically designed to absorb odors. As long as you empty it once or twice a week, your kitchen will smell exactly as it always has.

• Myth #2: "It will attract fruit flies and pests." Also nope. A bin with a properly sealed lid keeps everything in and pests out. Fruit flies are attracted to exposed food, not a sealed container.

• Myth #3: "It's difficult and time-consuming." If you can make coffee, you can do this. The "work" is simply scraping your cutting board into a different container. That’s it. Fill it up, empty it, give it a rinse. You’ve just diverted pounds of waste from the landfill with almost zero extra effort.

Closing the Loop on Your Clean Kitchen

Composting is the final, beautiful step in a truly clean kitchen. It’s a mindset that extends beyond just wiping down your counters; it’s about leaving no trace. It’s the very heart of creating a true zero-waste kitchen that is good for your family and for the planet.

Build Your Zero-Waste Kitchen