How to Make Compost from Household Kitchen Waste

Utilizing Household Kitchen Waste as Compost: Compost is a common term in agriculture and gardening. It is the partial decomposition of organic material by microbes, made from organic household waste. This waste is typically classified into organic and inorganic or non-organic waste. Organic waste usually comes from vegetables or fruits that are not suitable for consumption.

Difference Between Organic and Inorganic Waste

Organic Waste

Household organic waste is divided into two types: green organic waste, which comes from various vegetables and fruits in the kitchen, such as spinach, bean sprouts, pumpkin, eggplant, carrots, long beans, apples, oranges, bananas, papayas, and others. The other type is animal organic waste, which comes from leftover food such as meat, fish, eggs, shrimp, squid, etc. Some also refer to brown organic waste, which consists of dry leaves, dry grass, sawdust, straw, wood shavings, and husks.

Inorganic Waste

Inorganic waste comes from used items that cannot be decomposed by microbes or take a very long time to decompose. Examples of inorganic waste include plastic, cans, paper, cardboard, Styrofoam, glass, metal, and similar materials. Inorganic waste can be recycled and turned into items with economic value.

For inorganic waste, the only way to dispose of it is through recycling, as not all types of this waste can decompose in nature. For example, plastic. If this waste is managed properly, it will benefit the environment.

In contrast, managing organic waste is much easier by composting, turning it into natural fertilizer and planting media, which we often call compost.

How to Make Compost from Household Kitchen Waste

Making compost from household kitchen waste is not too difficult and can be done at home. Here are the steps for making compost using a pot:

1. Prepare the materials (waste, fruits, meat, etc.), chop or cut the organic waste to be made into compost.
2. Mix the compost materials with sawdust, husks, bran, or dry leaves and soil, then pour EM-4 (Effective Microorganism 4), a brown liquid, and stir until evenly mixed. EM-4 is not only good for agriculture and gardening but also for livestock.
3. It is more effective if you add goat or chicken manure. Prepare ash as well.
4. After everything is mixed, transfer the compost materials into a composting pot and cover them tightly. Repeat the steps daily. If the compost turns brown and black, does not smell strong, can be crushed, or becomes crumbly, the compost can be used as planting media.

A key part of making compost (compost planting media) is temperature control, as compost can be considered both fertilizer and planting media. One factor affecting the compost’s temperature is the thickness of the compost pile in the composter. If the pile is too low, the compost will quickly lose its heat. This is due to insufficient material to retain the heat released, so the microorganisms cannot grow and develop properly. The ideal temperature range for composting is 40-50°C (104-122°F). The ideal height or thickness for the composter is between 1.2 meters (4 feet) and 2 meters (6.5 feet).

There are many sources available to guide composting from household waste, both from the internet and books. One such book is “Waste-Free from Home” by Dra. Hj. Tety Suryati, M.Pd., which discusses waste management in detail.