Compost options

Composting is arguably one of the most effective individual actions you can take to protect our planet. It reduces landfill waste and lowers methane emissions. It enriches soil health by improving water retention and decreasing the need for chemical fertilizers due to the reintroduction of organic materials and nutrients into the soil.

Here is an overview of the different types of composting followed by the different methods I have used based on where I’ve lived. Please skim the overview first before moving on.

Regardless of method, I’ve always been mindful of the green to brown ratio. This concept is crucial for yard composting, but I’ll show you how this concept is also transferable to apartment composting.

“Greens” are high-nitrogen, carbon-poor materials such as food scraps and grass clippings that provide moisture and nutrients.

“Browns” are high-carbon, nitrogen-poor materials like leaves and cardboard which provide structure and dryness.

All forms of kitchen waste can be composted, but composting meat, dairy, and fats will lead to terrible smells and likely new flying or furry friends, unless you do the Bokashi method.

Industrial pickup/dropoff

I’ll start with the most convenient method. When I lived in Minneapolis, curbside composting included with trash and recycling was a dream come true. Get with it, Saint Paul! Despite the waste going to an industrial facility, I still separated my waste into a relative green/brown because it made my life easier at times. Food scraps needed to be taken out often to prevent mold so we had a green bin for that. Compostable wrappers

like the ones from Blueland would go in our brown bin because that didn’t need to be monitored as closely.

Industrial dropoff has always been great for me for brown compost. However, the busyness of life did get to me enough times to lead me to invest in an electric composter because if the dropoff wasn’t on my way to work, it was likely going to be forgotten. 

Bokashi

As you saw in the summary, Bokashi is a type of effective microorganism composting. The word is Japanese for “fermented organic matter.” When I lived in an apartment without access to industrial pickup or dropoff, I built a Bokashi system with some 5 gallon pails. The caveat was that while I did not have a garden, I did have a space where I was allowed to bury the pre-compost for that method.

Electric “composters”

Here is a fabulous discussion on whether electric “composters” are actually worth it. As much as I love my Vitamix FoodCycler, “Linda” is not a composter. I named the appliance because 1. It was easier to encourage my roommates to use the appliance by saying, “Oh! Linda can eat that.” or “Hey, could you run Linda when you get home from work?” 2. She was so beautiful coming out of the box. ¡Que linda! 

Here is a quote from the discussion about why my beloved Linda is not a composter:

“Almost all the manufacturers of these units claim they make compost because that is a popular, eco-friendly way to handle food scraps. Any company making this claim is using false advertising to sell its product.

I found this comment: “The machine runs for 5-6 hours – yes, it’s a while, but you’re speeding up science, so let’s have some patience! ” The only science it is speeding up is the drying of food.

I contacted several manufacturers and asked them for proof that they compost. None had any. To be honest, they didn’t understand what composting is. The exception to the rule is the Vitamix FoodCycler who are more ethical. They made it clear they “don’t compost”. They reduce the volume of food waste and hope that their product diverts it from the landfill.”

Another point for Linda! For all the things we could not give to Linda, like bamboo paper towels or Blueland wrappers, we put in a separate bin that would be dropped off at the nearest industrial compost site.

Backyard composting

The most success I’ve had with composting has been with a Geobin. It is beginner friendly too.