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A diagram showing the process of composting.

Composting is nature's way of recycling decomposed organic materials such as food waste, manure, leaves, grass trimmings, paper, wood, feathers, crop residue etc. into a stable, humus-like product, known as compost.

Composting is a natural biological process, carried out under controlled aerobic conditions (requires oxygen) where various microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, break down organic matter into simpler substances. The effectiveness of the composting process is dependent upon the environmental conditions present within the composting system i.e. oxygen, temperature, moisture, material disturbance, organic matter and the size and activity of microbial populations.

10 Good Reasons why one should compost:

Yard and food waste make up 30% of the waste stream. Composting your kitchen and yard trimmings helps divert that waste from the landfill, waterways and water treatment facilities.
You will significantly reduce pest problems–and your use of pesticides.
Healthy plants from healthy soil look better, produce better and have a much greater ability to fight off pests and diseases.
Adding organic materials to the soil improves moisture retention.
Adding decomposed organic material to the soil feeds beneficial organisms.
Compost amends both sandy and clay soils.
Compost provides a balanced, slow–release source of nutrients that helps the soil hold nutrients long enough for plants to use them.
Composting saves money–you avoid the cost of buying soil conditioners, bagged manure etc.
Feeding your plants well will improve your own diet. Plants grown in depleted soils have a reduced nutrient content.
Home composting is a valuable tool in educating children about nature and the cycle of life.

On the one side, we are rapidly running out of landfill space and soon organic materials will be banned from landfill sites altogether. On the other, these materials are too good to be thrown away and the most responsible thing to do is to treat them as useful products rather than as waste.

Compost-making is a vital, life-saving opportunity to save waste and turn it into productive use. Here are some suggestions, hints and tips that can aid composters in producing healthy compost in an easier, quicker and more effective manner.

[edit] Composting tips

Here are 10 important tips that should be considered by every composter, in no particular order:

Aerate. Your compost needs oxygen if it is going to break down the materials you add. If it's a tumbler, turn it. If it's static then get a stick/pole/shovel and get in there and move it around.
Save the worms. If you find a worm while you're gardening carefully relocate it to your compost bin. And it will happily work on breaking down your wastes. The more help you have the better!
Go Big. Container wise that is. Bigger is better when composting but smaller is better than nothing at all.
Get cracking! Rinse and break up your egg shells before adding them to your compost pile. This gives them a head start and you will be less likely to find undigested shell later when you go to use your compost.
Add fluid to your compost. You don't want it too wet but you don't want it too dry either. Water-downed leftover fruit juices are a great treat for your compost instead of pouring them down the drain.
Sunshine is best! Composters work quicker in sunny locations but if you have to, partial sun will work too (it'll just take longer).
Cover it up. Keep a clear bag of leaves next to the composter so you always have brown material to cover new waste additions. This will also help keep the fly population down in the summer.
Double duty. If you have the room, two composters are better than one. While you are busy filling one composter the second one can be busy working in the sun. When it's time to empty one they can switch positions and start all over again.
Cupboard list. Keep a list posted on the inside of one of your cupboard doors so you can see at a glance what can and cannot be composted so there is no confusion (see handy .pdf below).
Kitchen Aid. You're more likely to compost if you don't have to run out to the composter a few times a day. Keep a lidded container in your kitchen for convenience and empty a few times a week.

[edit] More composting tips

A quick method of making compost

Balancing ingredients is optional.

Good compost can be either hot or cold.

Small or large — any size pile will work just fine.

Turning compost is optional.

Too much of any one material will slow down the composting process.

You can gauge the moisture level of your compost pile by its fragrance.

You can compost diseased or weedy plants.

With a worm bin, you can even compost indoors.

You can safely compost livestock manure

Keep your compost aerated

There are good uses for immature compost.

If you live in a flat, set up a shared compost bin

The Indoor Kitchen Composter uses a different method than outdoor composting - fermentation - that allows you to compost (smell-free) from the comfort of your own kitchen! Also a great gift for those who live in apartments and who may not have room to set up an outdoor compost bin.

Set up a composting toilet

If you have a compost bin, cover it during winter, to keep heat in and rain out. If you have a wormery, wrap it in old carpet or bubble wrap to keep the worms warm so that they can continue to turn kitchen waste into rich compost when temperatures drop.

Used coffee grounds can go straight on the borders in your garden, or in pots, to make instant compost. It's also ideal at deterring slugs from your plants.