Food scraps and yard trimmings make up around 28 percent of what households throw away, so composting removes nearly a third of your trash by weight.
Pick a bin that fits your space, a tumbler for a small yard, or a worm bin for an apartment with a balcony.
Layer two parts brown material like leaves and cardboard with one part green material like food scraps, and turn the pile every week or two.
Keep meat and dairy out to avoid smells, and in a few months you will have dark, crumbly soil for the garden instead of a full trash can.