Composting is essentially the perfect system. The food scraps scraps from your kitchen waste can be composted and that compost can then be used to grow more food. Besides allowing you to use your fruit and vegetable scraps and other organic material to the fullest, composting is a much better end source for food waste and helps reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions.
Yet, we don’t all have access to a big yard, or spare yard space where we can place a large bin for composting. Because of this, many of us who live in cities and the suburbs wonder if composting is even a possibility. Read on to learn the answer to this question, or jump ahead to learn about the best composter for apartment living!
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First up, can you really compost when you live in an apartment? And, if so, which indoor composting method is the best?
Can you compost in an apartment?
Composting in a condo or an apartment, whether it’s a large space or a tiny one, is indeed possible. Don’t feel that just because you don’t have a yard you’re forever doomed to throw your food waste away. Composting is a great way to dispose of organics like kitchen scraps, divert waste from landfills while creating your own compost for your house plants!
And while you obviously can’t build a giant, open bin for composting in your third-floor walk-up big-city apartment, that doesn’t mean there aren’t tons of options available to you if you want to start sustainably disposing of your food waste. Plus, thanks to technological advancements, some of the available composting options are really cool!
Let’s take a look at some of the indoor composting solutions right now.
How to compost in an apartment?
Whether your apartment has a balcony or not, there are many easy composting methods to choose from. The best composter for you will depend on the size of your space and the amount of time you have to dedicate to composting. Some of the best indoor composting solutions are:
- Compost tumbler
- Countertop composter
- Upright compost bin
- Worm bin
- Freezer bin
And if you’re wondering what to do with finished compost after breaking down your organic waste with one of the above methods, you can actually add it to your indoor plants!
Next up, composting may be a simple, natural process, but what if you live in an apartment that doesn’t even have a balcony? The great news is that there are still several easy options that will work for you.
4 easy composters and alternatives for your apartment if you don’t have a balcony
If you don’t have a yard or space outdoors for composting, the inside of your apartment is an equally good option! There are tons of solutions for indoor composters, and if you manage your bin properly, you won’t have to worry about the smell or about attracting pests.
1. Compost alternative: Using a food recycler
If you’re looking for an indoor-friendly alternative that’s easy, fast and odor-free, then an electric food recycler will be your new best friend. About the size of a small appliance, Lomi food recyclers sit on your countertop and do all the hard work for you. Simply toss in your food scraps, turn it on and overnight it will turn your waste into a nutrient rich fertilizer.
Use this method if you: Live in a small apartment. A lot of the indoor composting methods require a bit of space, which you may not have. Electric food recyclers are about the size of a bread maker or food processor, meaning they’re perfect for a neat and tidy kitchen apartment.
Try this product: Lomi
2. Worm composters will do the work for you
Apartment composting with worms is exactly what it sounds like: you put your food scraps in a big bin full of worms! To get started, DIY or purchase a worm bin, then head to a local garden center or bait shop and pick up one pound of vermicomposting worms such as red wigglers. While some people like to keep their worm bin outside, vermicomposting worms actually prefer room temperature - making them perfect for an apartment without a balcony or patio. And the best part about vermicomposting is that it can be done indoors year-round.
Use this method if: You don’t mind handling the worms. Worms are one of nature’s most wondrous creatures. But not everyone wants to have them living in their home. But if the thought of a worm bin doesn’t bother you then this composting process is fascinating to observe.
Try this product: The Essential Living Composter
3. Keep it simple with an indoor compost bin
Perhaps the most straightforward way to learn how to compost food scraps in an apartment is to get a countertop bin for composting. It’s pretty much as simple as it sounds - place a bin on your counter and fill it with your food scraps. What you do with the bin once it’s full is up to you. If there are community gardens nearby, or your municipality has a place to bring organic waste, then you may want to go those routes. However, a step up from the simple bin on the counter method are Bokashi bins. The Bokashi compost method involves placing your compost in an airtight bin and then adding a special activator that helps speed up the decomposition process.
Use this method if: You don’t mind the smell. True, compost can get a little stinky. But if you use an airtight container - such as with the Bokashi method, the smell will be kept to a minimum. Plus, then you can try composting in an apartment without worms sharing your space!
Try this product: TeraGanix Organko Complete Bokashi Kit
4. Store your organic waste in the freezer
If you have access to a compost option away from your home, such as a local community garden or municipal collection center, you’ll need somewhere to store your scraps between trips to the pile. But we get it - the thought of old food sitting on your counter may not be very appealing and can even lead some apartment dwellers to rethink composting all together. The solution? Store your scraps in the freezer! Putting your scraps in a bin in the freezer puts the decomposition process temporarily on hold. While in the freezer, your scraps won’t smell and won’t attract flies.
Use this method if: You don’t like the idea of food scraps sitting on your counter. The great thing about storing your kitchen scraps in the freezer is its odor free and pest free. The scraps freeze and stay that way until you’re ready to take them to their final destination.
Try this product: Full Circle Food Scrap Collector and Freezer Bin
4 ways to start composting in an apartment balcony
If you live in an apartment with a balcony or patio then you have almost as many compost options as someone with a full yard. True, you won’t be able to build a large compost station out of wood and chicken wire - which is a popular DIY for those who live in a house. But there are several routes you can go to produce beautiful finished compost that you can then use for your indoor and outdoor plants.
1. Try a compost tumbler
Compost tumblers are popular composting units for people who have yards - and lots of yard waste to deal with. But they also work great for apartment-dwellers who have a balcony or a patio. Tumblers are airtight, meaning they won’t attract pests.They’re also excellent at trapping heat, which speeds up the composting process. And the best part? Unlike with traditional compost piles, you don’t have to shovel the fruit and vegetable scraps and other waste items. All you have to do is turn the crank a few times a week until the organic matter has completely decomposed.
Use this method if: You have a medium amount of organic waste. Tumblers come in a variety of sizes and the larger two chamber models can hold up to 43 gallons. Just make sure your patio or balcony is wide enough to fit a tumbler before purchasing one.
Try this product: VIVOSUN Outdoor Tumbling Composter
Pro tip: A tumbler with two chambers allows for one side to “cook” while you add food scraps and other new organic waste to the other side. It helps keep the decomposition process efficient!
2. Invest in an upright apartment compost bin
While the majority of people who have an upright bin have a yard, there’s no saying you can’t also use one if you have a balcony or a patio. However, make sure you look for apartment-friendly compost bins as not all of them are airtight and could attract critters. Also, many of the upright bins on the market don’t have a bottom as they’re meant to be placed directly on the grass. The upright bins that do have bottoms collect the liquid from your finished compost in a tray - which you can then use to fertilize any potted plants you have on your balcony or in window boxes.
Use this method if: You have a lot of organic waste. Upright bins can hold twice as much organic matter as a tumbler. Also, because they’re tall and thin they work great if you only have a narrow outdoor space.
Try this product: Exaco Aerobin 400-T Insulated Compost Bin
Pro tip: Using an insulated upright bin allows your organic matter to stay warm year-round, meaning you’ll be able to produce more compost compared to those who can’t compost during winter.
3. Use a compost bag to save space
A compost bag is a budget-friendly outdoor composting option. Made of fabric, these bags come with handles and can easily be moved around. Much like an upright bin, you open the lid and dump your organic waste on top. Use the handles to help turn your compost a few times a week and keep an eye on the decomposed material at the bottom of the bag, which you can access through a small opening.
Use this method if: You have limited outdoor space. Compost bags are much more compact than tumblers or bins and work really well if you’re wondering how to compost in a small apartment. Plus, they’re collapsible and can be folded up and put away when not in use.
Try this product: DQRICH 15 Gallon Multifunction Composting Bag
Pro tip: Compost bags are multipurpose, with owners of these bags reporting they’ve used them to store items indoors during the off-season.
4. Community gardens are a great way to share the benefits of composting
Even if you do have a balcony or patio space, you may want to take your composting game to the next level. If your building has an outdoor common area, get permission from management to set up a community compost area. Sweeten the deal by saying you’ll maintain it and that the broken down compost can be used for the building’s flower beds. Once you get permission, you can use almost any outdoor composting method as long as you have the space for it, but keeping it simple - and affordable - is probably your best bet. Try setting it up near the outdoor garbage and recycling bins so residents can easily add to the compost pile.
Use this method if: You want to encourage a community of composters - and you get permission, of course!
Try this product: Zodight Expandable Outdoor Composter
Pro tip: Consider putting up a small sign near the community compost pile letting everyone know what can and what can’t be added.
Written by: Larissa Swayze