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Composting is a great option for minimizing waste and putting it to good use by turning food scraps and other organic matter into free fertilizer for your garden. (Nearly half of all garbage collected curbside is compostable.)
The process also doesn't have to be complicated: There are multiple ways to build a compost pile, depending on how much space you have and how much effort you want to put in.
And you don't actually have to have a full garden to make composting worthwhile. Whether you live somewhere that doesn't allow you to maintain a garden or simply don't want to grow anything, you can still easily find a few ways to use your homemade compost.
Add it to your potted plants
Compost can add a boost to your potted plants, including indoor houseplants. Mix your finished compost into store-bought soil when you repot, make your own potting mix, or brew compost tea that you can pour over your plants. Compost helps retain water, so make sure you combine it with well-aerated soil rather than using it on its own.
Mix it into your landscaping
Compost can be useful in your yard even if you're not growing vegetables. You can sprinkle it around trees and shrubs once or twice a year to improve water retention and soil nutrition, mix it into the soil in sparse areas in preparation for planting, or use it as an erosion barrier—either on its own (like mulch) or packed into a mesh tube.
Donate it to a community or school garden
If you're producing a lot of compost that you can't use, consider donating it to your local community garden or urban farm. You may also be able to drop off the raw material to be added to community compost piles at gardens or farmers markets (though some organizations have restrictions on where they source both scraps and finished compost). Or call around to find schools that have gardening or food systems curricula. The National Wildlife Foundation's EcoSchools program participants may be a good place to start.
Sell it to other gardeners (or give it away)
You're also likely to find other gardeners in your area who are willing to take fresh finished compost off your hands rather than buy it from a garden center, whether you choose to sell it or give it away. Try listing it on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or a local garden group, or gift it to friends and neighbors who garden.
Sign up for a curbside compost service
If you don't want to compost at all but also don't want to toss food waste in the trash, look for a curbside pickup option in your area. Many municipalities offer this alongside trash and recycling; all you have to do is put your scraps in a specified bin. Alternatively, there are private composting companies that you can sign up with. Just make sure you follow the guidelines provided by the service, including which foods should and shouldn't be added to a compost pile.
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