Home composting isn’t just for homeowners with a yard or lots of outdoor space. Thanks to compact, odor-free composting solutions available today, food scraps can be turned into nutrient-rich compost for even the smallest apartment dwellers. Worm bins, electric high-tech electric composters, and more exist for every kind of space and lifestyle. Here, we delve into the best composting machines for apartments and smaller spaces and present some eco-friendly options that are both practical and easy to use.
Why Home Composting Matters
In a landfill, food waste decomposes and produces unhealthy greenhouse gases like methane. Composting lets food scraps decompose aerobically, meaning with oxygen, and produces a nutrient-rich soil additive for gardens, houseplants, and more. It reduces the volume of weekly waste by substantially cutting its volume, which can be advantageous to the environmentally conscious household. No matter how small your balcony or indoor kitchen space is, you can begin composting today with one of these compact options.
Six Top Solutions for Small-Space Composting
Here are six versatile composting options that will fit into apartment life, from low-maintenance to high-tech machines:
1. Vermicomposting – or Worm Composting
Why Worm Bins are Perfect for Apartments
One of the most in-demand small-space options for composting is worm composting, also referred to as vermicomposting. It’s compact, efficient, and low-maintenance. Using worms, organic waste is broken down into “worm castings,” a natural fertilizer that can be added to potting soil.
Getting Started
A basic worm bin is essentially layers of stacked trays. Food scraps are placed in the top tray, and when they rot, worms migrate up through the trays, leaving behind nutrient-rich compost in the lower trays. Vermicomposting can be done indoors because properly cared for worm bins do not have a foul odor.
How to Win
- Don’t give worms citrus or oily scraps because they can be too acidic and disrupt the environment of the worms.
- Add bedding material, such as shredded newspaper or cardboard, to balance the moisture in the bin.
- Harvest the compost periodically from the lower tray, leaving enough bedding and compost to keep the worm population thriving.
2. Bokashi Composting
A Fast and Compact Solution
Another indoor-friendly method is Bokashi composting, where beneficial microbes cause fast decomposition of food waste without odors. This system makes it possible to manage items, including meat and dairy, that cannot be handled by other composting systems.
The Bokashi Process
This method takes the following steps: it collects and stacks food waste along with Bokashi bran within a closed container. The friendly bacteria within the bran ferment, not break down, the waste. After two weeks, the fermented product is set for burial or infusion into a larger compost pile.
Advantages and Disadvantages
- Advantages: Very fast and efficient, includes almost all varieties of food waste, does not produce stenchy odors.
- Cons: Requires layering scraps regularly with Bokashi bran and drawing off liquid “compost tea.”
This is a nutrient-rich compost tea that can further be diluted with water and used as a fertilizer for plants, adding another eco-benefit to this system.
3. Electric Composting Machines
Speed and Convenience
Electric composters are perfect for those who want minimal effort in composting. With these machines, food waste is heated and churned to break it down within hours, and turning waste into compost is merely a matter of pressing a button. Electric composters are pricier than other approaches but neat, odorless, and can tackle most kitchen organic waste, including small amounts of meat and dairy.
Advantages and Disadvantages
- Advantages: Operate extremely fast, no bad smells, easy to use.
- Disadvantages: Requires electricity; may be too large for some countertops.
4. Countertop Compost Bins with Odor Control
A Stylish and Simple Option
For a high-tech compost bin in an old-fashioned kitchen, try a countertop compost bin with built-in odor filtering. These bins allow you to collect scraps until you’re ready to transfer them to a community garden or outdoor composter. Most have replaceable charcoal filters to eliminate odors.
Using Countertop Compost Bins
These bins are ideal for households with access to a larger compost pile or compost pick-up service but need an easy way to hold scraps. They come in small sizes, are easy to clean and empty regularly, and offer stylish designs that blend into any kitchen decor.
5. Freezer Compost Bins
Store Scraps Without the Mess
Freezer compost bins store food scraps without smells and prevent pest issues. Simply keep the bin in the freezer and add food waste as needed. When full, transfer the contents to a worm bin, Bokashi bucket, or drop-off site.
Benefits of Freezer Bins
By freezing scraps, decomposition is paused, and this method is great for small apartments. The freezing process also makes food waste easier to compost by breaking down cell walls.
6. Community Compost Drop-Off Programs
For Apartments with Minimal Space
If composting at home isn’t an option, many cities and community gardens offer drop-off sites for food waste. Some neighborhoods even have shared community composting sites, where you can dispose of food waste without setting up a home system.
Benefits of Community Composting
Using a community composting program reduces your environmental footprint with little to no setup or maintenance. Store scraps in a countertop or freezer bin until you’re ready to drop them off.
How to Maximize Your Small-Space Composting
Follow these tips to get the most from your small-space composting system:
- Balance Green and Brown Materials: Even if you use a worm bin or an electric composter, balancing nitrogen-rich greens like vegetable scraps with carbon-rich browns like cardboard or newspaper creates the ideal compost mix and keeps smells in check.
- Check Moisture Levels: Proper moisture is essential for healthy compost in vermicomposting and Bokashi systems. Add dry bedding if too wet or mist with water if too dry.
- Apply Compost to Indoor Plants or Container Gardens: Even in an apartment, use compost to feed indoor plants, window boxes, and container gardens for maximum benefit.
- Experiment with Compost Tea: Use diluted liquid “compost tea” from Bokashi or worm bins to nourish plants. Dilute it properly; these solutions are highly concentrated and often too rich without mixing.
- Maintain Routine: Regularly add scraps and check on the system to keep it running hygienically, avoiding odors or pests in your composting setup.
Conclusion
Starting a composting routine doesn’t need to be limited to larger spaces. It’s possible in any apartment or small area. From hands-on worm bins to odor-free Bokashi to high-speed electric composters, these methods help you minimize waste and contribute to a healthier planet. With compact composting machines for urban living, food scraps can be converted into valuable soil additives that benefit both your home environment and the ecosystem.
