Composting for Kids Made Easy

The first thing kids need to learn about composting is what exactly goes in the compost! It will be a bit of an adjustment to move from throwing out leftover scraps on their plate into the compost rather than the garbage. Many of the things we routinely throw out can actually be composted. All kinds of food can be composted including meat and bones. Even things like napkins, paper plates, yard and pet waste, can be added to the bin. Your kids will be amazed at the reduction in the number of things they actually throw in the garbage and will feel good about doing their part for the environment. Sorting the compost from the garbage after meal times can easily become part of their family chores for the week as well.

Invest in the Right Equipment

Head to the store as a family and pick out city-approved compost bags and small bins for around your home. Having multiple bins around the home to collect things like kleenex in the bathrooms will also help to make composting part of the everyday habit.

Manage Odors

It is important to take the compost bins out regularly, particularly scraps collected in the kitchen bin. This will not only prevent odors but it will reduce the likelihood of attracting unwanted pests. Have the kids take out the compost bag if it is full at the end of supper, or at least every 2-3 days depending on the types of food scraps collected. Raw meat should always go out to the outside bin right away.

My favorite product to manage odors is EnviroKlenz’s Everyday Odor Eliminator. This product absorbs and eliminates toxic and noxious chemicals with a combination of both physical and chemisorption mechanisms. This means that no harsh chemicals are necessary to get the job done.

When our composting program first started, we had a three week period when garbage was not picked up by the city. Unfortunately for our family, the day before our compost cart was delivered we had to throw out several packages of meat that had gone bad in the fridge. As a result, this meat sat in the garbage bin in the hot summer sun for several weeks before it was picked up, and you can just imagine the smell! As soon as it was finally picked up, I immediately grabbed the Odor Eliminator and poured about a half cup around the inside of the bin followed by boiling water and let it sit for several hours. Miraculously when I came back the odor was completely neutralized. I dumped it out and allowed it to air dry and my bin was as good as new.

Simplify Clean Up

With all that food sorting and taking out the compost bins, remind kids to wash their hands afterward to prevent cross contamination of harmful bacteria. EnviroKlenz’s hand soap does double duty. It cleans hands while neutralizing odors in one use. While most soaps only mask the odor with additional fragrances, this hand soap uses earth mineral technology in combination with Castile-based soap in order to physically break down odors and even prevents odors from re-depositing on your hands! In addition, for any additional odors left on clothes, EnviroKlenz also makes a great Laundry Enhancer to safely neutralize odors in your clothing as well. Simply add a scoop or two to your load along with regular detergent.

Composting with kids doesn’t have to be complicated. There are many easy ways to involve them in the process and create a lifelong habit for the benefit of all. Do you compost with your kids? Leave a comment with your experience below!

XO The Good Enuf Mommy