Discover 5 cheap and easy composting solutions for small spaces, whether you live in an apartment, condo, or tiny house.
Whether you live in an apartment, condo, or tiny home, here are some simple, practical solutions to your small space composting woes.
Growing your own food is important to your overall health and the health of the planet. You want to do as much as possible, but you live in an apartment or condo and there are rules about what you can and cannot do on your balcony or patio. You barely have enough room to grow anything, let alone compost.
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As a small space composter, you may be looking for a composting solution that can do many things:
- Working in small spaces: You barely have enough space to grow your own food. Where are you going to put the compost bin?
- Easy to install and use: Composting can be daunting. You want your composting solution to be easy to set up and use.
- does not attract errors: There’s nothing worse than bugs in a small space. No bugs in the compost bin!
- Work as fast as possible: Do you want to use compost ASAP? There are solutions too!
Small space composting solutions
There are many solutions for composting your small space. It all depends on what’s important to you on the list above. What is your top priority?
Here are some solutions to consider:
Worm Box
The easiest way to compost indoors cheaply, easily and quickly is to use Worm Box. Vermiculture (or vermicomposting) produces worm castings that are used to make worm teas – ideal soil for feeding container plants.
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plastic storage box
plastic storage box are a great option as they are fairly cheap and easy to find. They come in a variety of sizes so you can find the right size bin for your space. 10 to 18 gallons is a good size. You can even stack the bins to save space. Make sure to drill ventilation holes near the top to let air into the bin.
5 gallon bucket
Another very cheap and stackable option.you can find 5 gallon bucket with lid You can often find them for free at bakeries, etc., at home centers and big box stores. Large plastic cat litter containers work great too! Be sure to drill vent holes near the top of the bucket or container.
Box
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An old wooden or wine crate can be turned into an indoor composter. Add a plastic bag stapled inside and cover with a hinged lid or painter’s canvas.
bokashi (It means “fermented organic matter” in Japanese)
The Bokashi method is simple enough to compost everything – from kitchen waste to meat and dairy.you mix one inoculated bran Put the bucket full of microorganisms into the Bokashi bucket and close it tightly. When the bucket is full, seal it and set it aside for 10 to 12 days. Every other day, drain the bucket (it’s also a great compost tea). You’ll get pre-composted compost that can be put in a worm bin or left for a month for further decomposition.
Where do you put your compost bin?
- under the sink
- under the plant stand
- in the closet in the hall
- outdoor (This is a great conversation starter!)
How much do you put in?
Two types of materials make composting work. They are nitrogen-containing materials (such as food scraps and grass clippings) and carbon materials (such as leaves, shredded paper, and corrugated cardboard).
What to put in your compost bin:
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- Fruit and Vegetable Leftovers
- coffee grounds
- tea bag (If the bag is slippery, don’t put it in the compost)
- shredded paper
- decorations for indoor plants
- hair (you and your pet)
- toilet paper roll torn into small pieces
- dryer fluff
What not to put in your trash:
Indoor compost boxes do not heat up like outdoor hot boxes, so less microbial action occurs (except when using the Bokashi method). This means kitchen waste doesn’t break down as quickly, especially if you add:
- Meat
- dairy products
- Fat
- chunks of anything
It may also be a good idea to avoid composting very smelly items, such as onion skins. You may smell it elsewhere in the house. Try to avoid foods that contain water, such as melons or squash. They might make your litter box too wet.
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The secret to success
Here are a few things to keep in mind if you want to be successful with indoor composting:
- Have shredded paper or dried leaves handy. Add a handful of shredded paper or leaves each time you add food scraps or coffee grounds. This will keep your litter box from getting too wet. Note: Spam works perfectly for this, as long as it’s not flashy advertising.
- The contents of your litter box need to be turned over frequently. Rotating something in the litter box will heat it up and make the microbes very happy. It also blends the contents so they don’t get too wet or dry. Move everything with a hand trowel. One advantage of the barrel method is that you can roll it back and forth a few times to mix it.
- No matter what kind of litter box you have, add small pieces. The pulp in a juicer breaks down much faster than chunks of vegetables. Shred your food scraps or put them in a blender, and make sure to shred your paper or cardboard.
Can be composted in small spaces, such as apartments, condos or small houses. Over time, you’ll learn what works and what doesn’t with your composting method of choice. It will be a great feeling to know that you are saving waste from landfill and making compost for your container garden.
What do you think?
What is your favorite composting method? Let us know in the comments!
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This is an updated version of an article originally published on September 9, 2017. Authors may not be able to respond to comments at this time, but we encourage our community members to join, share their experiences and answer questions!
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