There are a few ways you can go. One is not to have a container at all. Many people compost in a heap in a corner of their yard. Because composting is a natural process, there is no need for any kind of a structure, although many people do use plastic containers or wooden bins.

A compost container provides two major benefits. First, it will contain your materials, so if you have any paper or other "flyable's", the wind wont take them away. Secondly, containers hide your compost pile from your neighbour, who may not yet understand the benefits of composting as well as you do and may object to the look of your compost pile.

Compost containers also help to retain moisture in the pile, keep it from getting too wet in rainstorms, and contain any odours that may occur. But you aren't going to have any odours anyway because you are going to compost correctly!

Well, the backyard is usually a good place. Try to find a spot on bare ground that gets a fair amount of shade, so your pile is not dried out by the sun in the hot months of summer. A tree can provide some shelter from heavy rainstorms.

Put your composter (or compost pile) far enough away from your back door that it is not a nuisance, but close enough so that it is not a long trek with the kitchen waste, particularly in the winter.

If you're not sure, just find a spot that seems handy, maybe near your garden where you will use the material.

You will need some materials to start your compost pile. Generally, we look for Greens (wet and soft) and Browns (dry and woody). Then we mix them.

Greens are things like:

• Kitchen waste, such as fruit and vegetable peelings, bread, pasta, coffee grounds and filters, etc. (things don't have to be green to be called a Green!)
• Weeds, grass clippings,etc.

Browns are things like: Leaves, straw, hay and woody material Ash Paper (including egg cartons, toilet paper rolls and cereal boxes)

Greens provide nitrogen. Browns provide carbon. For composting to work properly, you must have both carbon and nitrogen in reasonable quantities. So you must mix some Greens and Browns together.

Begin with a layer of Browns - a base of leaves and woody material will help air circulate in your pile - and then add a layer of Greens. Finish by covering with a layer of Browns. As you add to your pile in the weeks and months to come, continue alternating layers of Greens and Browns, always finishing with a layer of Browns on top.

Don't worry if you don't have many materials at the beginning. Although a compost pile needs a certain amount of bulk to get working, you will soon be adding lots more material to your pile.

Now that you are an avid composter, you will be collecting those kitchen scraps and adding them to your compost pile. It's so easy to do.

You don't want to leave kitchen scraps (Greens) on the top of your compost pile. It is best to keep these materials buried inside the compost heap where they will break down quicker. That is why you finished with Browns when you built your pile. Just remember that each time you add some grass clippings and/or kitchen scraps, cover them with a layer of Browns. The easiest way to do this is to keep a bag of leaves or shredded paper near you composter and then throw in a few handfuls each time to cover your Greens.

You will want to ensure that your compost pile is a healthy, active friend in your backyard. It can be quite exciting to watch these "wastes" turn into a wonderful resource right in front of your eyes.

To make sure your compost pile is working efficiently, you have to make sure that it is wet enough and that there is some air in the pile.

Wondering why it is so important to keep your pile damp and aerated? It's because the microorganisms and earthworms that do all the work of turning your "wastes" into such a valuable resource need the moisture and air to stay alive and do their work. It's not too much for them to ask for, is it?

To sum it up, your job is to add the material, turn (mix up) the pile every two to three weeks, and keep your pile damp.