It’s Day 6! You are near the end of our World Environment Day challenge!
All through the week you have utilized non-biodegradable materials and upcycled them to prevent the dumping of toxic human utilities, but what about the biodegradables?
Biodegradables are equally necessary for ecological balance as it is a step to nullify the damage caused by other pollutants.
Today we are shifting to biodegradable sources as an alternative for chemical products. 
For example, many households use cow dung cakes or neem leaves as a disinfectant rather than chemically processed materials.
If we look in our homes, the main source of biodegradable waste is generated in our kitchens, be it vegetable peels or used tea leaves. The best way to work with kitchen waste, especially, is to compost it!
Day 6 Challenge: Collect kitchen waste and start composting!
If you are scratching your head, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with the easiest easy to go about it.
Follow these basic steps to make compost at your home!
1.Find a place for your compost bin
It is advisable to look for a safe, undisturbed, and well ventilated space. Placing your bin in a balcony, kitchen or terrace corners are best. The bin can be a simple spacious bucket with a lid.
2.Collect and segregate waste
Once you have chosen the place, collect all biodegradables from your kitchen and start separating them.
Separate them on the basis of wet and dry waste.
- Vegetable peels, fruit peels, leftovers or used tea leaves fall under wet waste. This is also called green waste.
- Dry waste consists of dried flowers, dried leaves, foil rolls, paper wrappings and dry peels. This is called brown waste.
Nitrogen and Carbon are the two essential gasses required in the process of composting. Green waste is a source of nitrogen, whereas brown waste is a good source of carbon.
- Start Composting
The fun starts now!
- While placing the compost bin, remember to make 4-6 holes at the bottom for the air to pass.
- Add a newspaper or big tray under the bin to avoid spills.
- Any compost starts with a good layer of soil. Hence start with making a layer of soil and then alternate a layer of dry and wet waste.
If your compost is too wet it indicates the lack of dry waste and has excessive nitrogen. Add enough quantity of brown waste in this case and vice versa.
Also make sure your pieces of brown waste are not too large. Cut them into smaller bits for faster composting.
Once a week it is important to add soil to let the microorganism act on the compost and neutralize the odour.
Maintenance tip: Give your bin a shake and twirl every other week and your compost will be ready to use in 2-3 months.
Add it to your garden, plants, kitchen garden and let your plants bloom naturally!
Wasn’t that easy?
Let us know in the comments!
References:
https://www.livspace.com/in/magazine/11-ways-reuse-kitchen-waste
https://www.gardenhealth.com/advice/soil-and-compost/top-tips-for-home-composting
https://www.georgeherald.com/News/Article/LifeStyle/home-composting-project-launched-201901290418