6 Pros & Cons Of Composting to Know Before You Start

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Composting is often talked up to be a sustainable, low-effort way to deal with food waste – and a lot of that praise is well-deserved. 

But it’s not always as effortless as it sounds, and like anything eco-friendly, it works best when it fits your actual life.

Whether you’re considering a backyard pile, a worm bin in your apartment, or simply trying to understand the fuss, here’s a list of the ups and downs.

The benefits of composting

It keeps food waste out of landfills

Up to 30% of what we throw away is compostable. Instead of sending it to rot in a landfill, you can turn it into something valuable: compost.

It cuts down methane emissions

When organic waste ends up in landfills, it breaks down without oxygen – which releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Composting avoids that by encouraging aerobic decomposition (aka: with air).

It turns trash into rich, useful soil

Compost isn’t just “dirt.” It’s a living, nutrient-packed soil amendment that helps plants thrive. If you garden, you’ll quickly see the difference in plant health and growth.

It saves you money

Forget buying fertilizer or expensive potting mixes. If you’re composting, you’re creating your own high-quality soil booster at home – for free.

It supports healthy soil life

Compost encourages biodiversity in your soil: microbes, fungi, and beneficial insects that improve plant resilience and water retention.

It reduces your garbage volume

Less food in your trash means fewer smelly bins and fewer garbage bags used – a small but satisfying win.

The disadvantages of composting

It can attract pests if mismanaged

Open piles or bins with the wrong mix of food scraps can bring rats, flies, or raccoons. It’s avoidable but takes some basic know-how and care. Here’s how to avoid attracting pests.

It might smell

If your compost is too wet or heavy on food scraps (“greens”) and not enough carbon-rich material (“browns”), it can smell sour or rotten. Luckily, it’s an easy fix once you know what to look for.

Want to understand the green-to-brown ratio, aerobic vs. anaerobic breakdown, and what “hot composting” means? Start with the composting basics. 

It takes time and attention

Compost doesn’t magically appear. It requires turning, balancing greens and browns, and watching moisture levels. You don’t have to be a compost scientist, but it’s not a “set it and forget it” system either – unless you’re okay with a slow process.

It’s trickier in small spaces

Apartment composting is possible (here’s how), but it usually means getting creative: bokashi, worm bins, or finding a nearby drop-off site. And yes, there’s a learning curve.

It’s one more habit to build

At first, collecting your scraps might feel like a hassle. You’ll need a little bin, a dumping routine, and possibly some research on what goes in. 

Weather affects it

If you’re composting outside, rain can soak your pile, freezing temps can slow it down, and heat can dry it out. Indoor setups avoid this but come with their own quirks.

Should you compost?

You’ll probably love it if:

• You have a garden, or balcony plants, or know someone who does
• You hate wasting food and like the idea of closing the loop
• You enjoy low-key sustainable habits that add up over time

You might skip it (for now) if:

• You already have a municipal compost pickup
• You’re short on time, energy, or space
• You find it hard to stay consistent with household routines

Alternatives to composting

Not everyone wants (or needs) to run their own compost bin. Here are a few easier options:

• Drop off scraps at a community compost site
• Use a city-provided compost pickup service (if available)
• Try bokashi bins for tougher scraps like meat and dairy
• Vermicompost indoors using a small worm bin (surprisingly low odor)

What do I do?

Right now, I live in Zagreb, where the city provides brown bins and a municipal compost pickup for food waste. So I collect my scraps in a countertop bin, empty them into the brown bin, and let the city handle the rest. 

It’s the easiest setup I’ve ever had, and I recommend taking advantage of services like this if your city offers them. It removes the labor of composting but still diverts waste from landfills. 

The only downside is that I can’t actually guarantee they compost it perfectly, but still, I’d rather give my scraps a fighting chance to become soil than send them straight to the dump.

Wrap up

Composting isn’t perfect — but it makes a real difference.

Yes, there’s a learning curve, and it doesn’t always go as planned. But it keeps valuable materials out of landfills, nourishes the soil, and helps close the loop on our waste. In the end, it gives back more than it takes.

Start where you are, do what you can, and don’t overthink it.

Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments!

Want to keep going?

Here are some other composting guides you might find helpful:

• What You Can & Can’t Compost: Ultimate List (100 Items)
• Composting Basics & Terms To Know
• Apartment Composting: 5 Easy Methods
• 8 Best Compost Bins For Small Apartments
• 9 Common Composting Problems & Solutions