It’s that time of year when many of us will be bellying up to the table for huge family feasts. But before you dump all of those leftovers into the trash, why not consider composting?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that yard trimmings and food residuals combine to make up almost a quarter of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream.

Composting is an easy way to cut down on your household waste, as well as a great and affordable way to make your own nutrient-rich soil for your garden.

The EPA defines compost as “an organic material that can be used… to grow plants.” And you can make your own compost by collecting certain household wastes and letting them decompose.

Don’t worry about the smell. Our compost has never smelled bad – it’s got more of an earthy smell.

It’s easy to set up a compost bin. One of our neighbors has a pile of compost materials in a corner of his yard. We built one with some wooden posts and chicken wire attached to the back of a wooden fence.

If you’d rather go for a more visually-appealing bin, you can buy a commercial bin.

Once you know where you will compost, it’s important to know what you can and cannot compost.

According to VegWeb.com you can compost, any sort of lawn clippings, leaves, hay, weeds, sawdust, fruits and vegetable peels and rinds, tea bags, coffee grounds and eggshells.

These items need to stay out of your compost bin — chemically treated wood, waste (human or pet), diseased plants, meat, bones and fatty foods.

The EPA also has a very detailed list of compostable items.

Once your compost pile starts growing, Howtocompost.org recommends you turn the pile twice a week with a pitchfork to keep it well mixed, and keep the pile damp.

When your compost begins to look like potting soil, it’s ready for use. Howtocompost.org suggests that you keep finished compost covered to protect its nutrients from the rain or snow.

Once you are ready to start planting in the spring, add the compost to your soil.

Do you compost? Which type of bin do you use?