Question: I want to start a compost pile at my house, but I am worried about odors and pests. How do I get started?
by Joyce A. Mader, Piedmont Master Gardener Intern
Composting at home can provide an excellent way to build healthy soil from yard trimmings and food waste. It improves soil structure and function and provides nutrients to help plants thrive. It also reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, insecticides and weed killers, improves water absorption, and reduces runoff, erosion and pollution.
Compost is the result of the natural decomposition of garden, lawn and kitchen organic materials by bacteria, fungi, insects and earthworms. This recycling function creates a valuable soil amendment that keeps waste out of landfills and reduces methane gas release into the air. Since 50% of compostable waste in the U.S. goes to landfills annually, composting is an eco-friendly and economical action that homeowners can take with minimal effort.
Type of Composter and Location. Before deciding to buy or build a compost bin or set up an open compost pile, consider the amount of material you expect to compost and the space available. In addition, think about how much time and energy you want to devote to composting. Options can range from a simple store-bought composting bin, an open pile contained with wire or scrap wood, or a tumbler. Another option is a multi-bin system to accommodate compost in various stages of decomposition and allow for continuous compost production. You can even compost in a hole or trench in the ground or a lidded trash can with holes drilled around the bin.
If space is limited, you might wish to purchase or construct a bin, rather than build an open pile. The bin or pile should be located in an area with good drainage. The location should have a water source nearby and allow for easy access when adding organic material or watering, turning and aerating the pile. If possible, locate the composting pile or bin close to plants that would benefit from the nutrient runoff. Situate the pile or bin a short distance from the house to make proper maintenance easier and to keep it from becoming an eyesore for you or your neighbors.
Materials to Compost: A healthy compost pile requires a mix of carbon-rich (“BROWN”) materials and nitrogen-rich (“GREEN”) materials. The ratio of brown material to green material can vary but 3 times as much brown as green material is recommended.
BROWN materials can include:
- dry leaves and twigs (preferably chopped)
- sawdust (untreated) and straw
- shredded paper (non-glossy, uncolored) and shredded brown bags
- shredded cardboard (no wax coating, tape or glue)
- untreated wood chips
GREEN materials can include:
- grass clippings, weeds without seeds
- fruit and vegetable scraps
- coffee grounds and paper filters
- paper tea bags (no staples, plastic or cloth)
- crushed eggshells (not eggs)
- manure (not pet or human waste)
Avoid using these organic materials for composting in a home setting:
- meat, grease, bones
- diseased, treated or invasive plant material.
- weeds and hay gone to seed
- oils and fats, bread products, rice and pasta, sauces, dairy products, nuts or fish
- black walnut leaves and chips
- compostable foodservice ware and compostable bags
- plastic, glass, metals or other non-organic materials
There are good reasons why some organic matter should not be composted.
- A compost pile must reach 140+ degrees Fahrenheit for three to five days to kill weed seeds, pests, and disease-causing microorganisms. Most home compost piles do not get hot enough.
- While chemicals may be listed as safe for ornamental use, inclusion in a compost pile could lead to contamination of soil used to grow vegetables and other foods.
- Clippings from invasive plants can root and are likely to spread to your garden beds or lawn.
- Home compost piles typically do not get hot enough to kill pathogens found in pet or human feces.
- Sawdust and wood chips treated with chemicals can damage plant growth.
- Cut flowers from a florist contain fungicides which can delay or stop the composting process.
Shredding materials before adding them to the compost pile speeds decomposition by providing microorganisms with more surface area to work.
Starting a Compost Pile. There are two main methods of composting: hot composting and cold composting. Hot composting is done in commercial settings, breaks down materials quickly but is more labor intensive and requires the pile to maintain 140+ degrees Fahrenheit. Cold composting is slower, easier and more suitable for home composting. It eliminates the effort needed to keep the pile hot but will still turn the organic material into compost. A 3-to-4-foot cube is a manageable size for most home composting. Be sure to follow the very specific steps necessary to start and maintain a successful composting process.
Moisture. Compost requires moisture to break down properly (about as moist as a damp sponge), not soaking wet. Normal precipitation is often enough, but if it has been too dry, add water to allow active decomposition to continue throughout the year. If the compost becomes too wet, add more browns.
Aeration. Compost also requires oxygen for decomposition. The more often a pile is turned, the more rapid the decomposition. Some commercially-purchased bins will come with a stand and a lever for spinning. For a homemade compost pile, use a pitchfork and flip portions of the pile a few times periodically to aerate the pile. Adding coarse, chunky materials (such as wood brush or paper egg cartons) can increase aeration and reduce the needed frequency of turning. Tools used to aerate the compost are also sold at garden supply stores.
Timing. If materials are shredded, moist, turned frequently and the proper brown to green balance is maintained, compost may be ready in a few months. If conditions are not optimal, decomposition into usable compost will take longer but the outcome will still be a benefit to the garden and lawn. When the compost is deep brown and starting materials are not recognizable, the compost is ready for use.
Avoiding Pests and Odors. Ideally, if composting piles are set up and maintained properly, pests and odors should not be a problem.
- To avoid attracting pests, such as rats, dogs, and raccoons:
- don’t compost foods such as dairy, meat, fat, bones and animal waste.
- cover food with brown materials or finished compost.
- construct or buy rodent resistant bins. A wire mesh lining of a bin can be a deterrent with no holes or gaps larger than ¼ inch.
- To avoid odors:
- bury fruit and vegetable scraps in the middle of the pile and cover with brown materials.
- if there is an ammonia smell, the pile may have:
- too many grass clippings or they may be clumped together. To remedy, tear the clumps apart and mix well with carbon materials.
- too many food scraps. Mix thoroughly with more carbon materials.
- Insufficient oxygen. Turn the pile and add coarse material.
- If a rotten or sulfurous odor occurs, the pile may have:
- too many food scraps or other green materials or they are clumped together. Tear apart clumps and mix well with carbon materials.
- too much moisture. Mix in carbon materials and cover when raining. Keep the pile aerated.
- Too little coarse material. Turn the pile while adding carbon materials of different sizes and coarseness.
Using Compost. When your compost is ready, it will smell earthy and look like fine-textured soil. Use it on the lawn to reduce the need to water and prevent erosion. Add it to your garden every year before planting. Mix it with soil when planting trees. Add it to sterile soil when you repot houseplants. You will be on your way to healthier soil and thriving plants.
If you are interested in learning more, attend one of the composting workshops that the Piedmont Master Gardeners conduct throughout the year. These workshops and other PMG events are posted on the events calendar on the PMG website.
Additional Resources
“Composting at Home”, US Environmental Protection Agency, 8 Dec 2025.
“Composting at Home: How to Reduce Your Waste and Make Your Own Fertilizer”, Indiana University, Environmental Research Institute, 2026.
“Composting at Home—The Green and Brown Alternative”, Schwartz, Mary and Bonhotal, Jean, Cornell University, Cornell Waste Management Institute, 2011.
“Compost: What Is It and What’s It to You”, Christian, A. H., Former Extension Specialist et al., Virginia Tech, Department of Crop & Soil Environmental Sciences, Publication 452-231, 2023.
“Home Composting with Options for Small, Indoor and Restricted Spaces”, Morini, Ralph, Piedmont Master Gardeners, The Garden Shed, Vol 11, No 7, 3 Jul 2025.
”Making Compost from Yard Waste”, Rishell, Ed, Extension Master Gardener, Virginia Tech, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Publication 426-703P, 2022.
“Preventing Animal Nuisances in Small Scale Composting”, Harrison, Ellen Z., and Bonhotal, Jean, Cornell University, Cornell Waste Management Institute, 2005.
“The Dirt on Compost”, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Agency of Natural Resources
“Troubleshooting Compost Piles”, Cornell University, Cooperative Extension Tompkins County, 1996.