Composting is an easy and effective way to help take the load off landfills while giving your garden a boost. But all the environmental kudos can’t disguise its true form: rotting organic matter. Good for the planet but what about your nose – does composting at home stink?

The most common answer to that delicate question is if you’re doing it right it shouldn’t stink. Does that mean your compost will always smell like the roses it nurtures? No. There can be some unpleasant odors involved with getting the compost job done. The good news is that there are ways to overcome the problem and find balance between your earth sense and earth scents.

Most people are more concerned with the compost catch, the bin used indoors to save kitchen scraps. Fermenting kitchen waste can have a strong odor something akin to vinegar. There are several options that encourage scrap collection while keeping odor away.

You can use a simple bin or container and empty it often. Easy enough and you can even find ceramic artists making beautiful pieces just for compost scrap collecting. To best facilitate this approach, your outdoor compost pile should be in a convenient location. If this bin sits too long it will start to make its presence known and can attract fruit flies.

Another option is to use a kitchen compost starter. The Clean Air Gardening company offers an anaerobic fermentation system that fits under your kitchen sink – the MaxAir Kitchen Composter. It makes the scrap collection process more pleasant by eliminating odor, mess and fruit flies.

The MaxAir is the size of a small waste pail but has a strainer and spigot to release moisture. Food scraps are placed in a compostable biodegradable bag fitted inside the bin. The system encourages anaerobic fermentation so you can close the lid tight without being blasted by stink under your sink. When the pail is full, throw the bag in your compost pile. Same process as taking out the garbage except instead of ending up in a landfill, this waste breaks down and feeds your garden.

If you’re worried about the smell of your compost pile either for your own nose or your neighbors there are some tricks to keep in mind. Again, if it’s working right it shouldn’t stink. If there is an odor you may want to aerate the pile by giving it a turn or mix.

Keeping your pile aerated is key to keeping it odor-free. A good mix of materials will allow oxygen in keeping smells away and helping your pile compost quicker. You can add moist, shredded newspaper or thin cardboard to give some variety to the compost make-up. Also, if your adding fine material, like grass clippings, be sure to spread them around and mix with bulkier materials.

Remember, organic matter rots. And that’s a good thing so don’t let your odor concerns stand in your way of giving composting a try. Not only will it help your garden grow, you’ll be helping the environment by diverting unnecessary waste from landfills.

*Note: The information in this article is general advice and not meant as a substitute for personal guidance from a financial advisor, real estate professional or legal counsel. Although the author is a licensed realtor, the advice given in this article does not constitute any client contract or agreement between the author and the user. The author is not responsible for any losses, damages or claims that may result from your decisions.