Get ready for a startling statistic: about 50 percent of your garbage, on a daily basis, shouldn't be thrown away . It's hard to deny the absurdity of this fact, even if you don't really care about the planet all that much.

Every day, half of what gets thrown into the trash could actually be turned into nutrient-dense organic compost , which is basically nature's fertilizer. By starting a compost, you could save money on chemical fertilizer, make your yard look awesome, and feel good about yourself by doing something great for the planet. All around win.

It takes a little bit of work to get a compost going. But once you've got a bin lined with brown materials, outlined below, you can start adding food scraps like vegetable peels and egg shells to the bin -- and that's how you cut down on the garbage. If compost's stinky reputation is holding you back, coffee grounds are a great way to get a handle on the smell.

Get started with help from this handy infographic below and reduce your carbon footprint today.

H/T Fine Dining Lovers