Composting is a great way to turn household waste into soil for your garden. But it’s more than just dirt.

"If you use compost in your soil, it helps to neutralize your soil so you won't have to use oil amendments, and that way you're not buying chemicals that may actually harm the environment," Garden Center Owner, Heather Riehl says.

 You can compost more than you might think. Eggshells, hair clippings, even coffee filters with grinds are all fair game.

“Anything that was once alive, that's a good way to think about what you want to compost. The only products you would not want to put in a pile ... would be meats, dairy products or animal waste," Riehl adds.

 Starting a pile is free and can save hundreds of dollars a year in fertilizer, chemicals and water. The only drawback is the smell. That’s especially true if you have a small yard.

 But composting bins eliminate that and speed up the whole process. It can take months for waste to break down in a pile. Bins do the job in just four weeks.

 "It's really pretty simple and that's another misconception. People think it's difficult but it's really very simple to do and to start doing," she says.

With so many benefits, it's worth considering before you buy that next bag of fertilizer.

60% of household waste is fit for the compost pile but only 8% makes it there.