Composting is a great way to reduce your food waste and contributions to greenhouse gas emissions. But it can also seem like a daunting task, the sort of thing only seasoned gardeners with enormous yards can do right. What goes into it? How do you make sure it doesn't reek? And what even is composting?

Composting isn't as hard (or as smelly) as you've been led to believe. Anyone can compost in any location, as long as they understand the basics of this all-natural process. Learn how it works, why it's beneficial to the environment, and how to make it work for you through our guide below

Compost is simply decayed organic matter — and "organic matter" is a pretty wide-ranging label. A twig can be organic matter, but so can a banana peel. When you mix a bunch of these items together in a compost pile, they break down naturally into a nutrient-rich fertilizer that helps gardens grow