A Guide to Composting in an Apartment

Nitrogen is going to be most of your food scraps, and ideally you want to aim to keep your compost around 50% carbon and 50% nitrogen. Worms like to be kept around room temperature, so they're the perfect indoor pet that happen to like eating your food scraps. Just don't add dairy, meat, or citrus peels.

How can I compost if I live in an apartment?
How do you compost when renting?
How do you compost an apartment without worms?
Do indoor composters smell?
Can you put Citrus in compost?
What do you do with compost if you don't garden?
What do you do with food scraps in an apartment?
Do you need worms to compost?
Can cooked rice go in compost?
Can onions go in compost?
Is it OK to have maggots in my compost?

How can I compost if I live in an apartment?

Here's how in four easy steps:

Buy a Container. Purchase a large plastic or ceramic container. ...
Pile the Components. Before you can toss scrapped food in your compost, you'll need to prep the bin. ...
Toss in Scraps. Now that you have a pile of paper, soil and worms, you can start throwing in your scraps. ...
Repeat.

How do you compost when renting?

Indoor composting

That means renters can easily take their indoor compost buckets with them each time they move. Unlike outdoor composting, indoor compost systems do not require oxygen and heat to work. Instead, the muesli mix that is layered between the scraps helps to break down the food.

How do you compost an apartment without worms?

The steps to follow are:

at the end of every day take your scraps, chop any bigger pieces up and mix them with some bokashi bran.
put the coated scraps in the compost bin and cover them with some more bran.
push everything down to get rid of any air pockets – a plate is useful for this.

Do indoor composters smell?

It allows you to fill the bin with waste and then cover the waste with a mixture to neutralize the smell and ferment the material. It's a system you can use as a full-time indoor compost bin. ... These systems are also odor-free, making them good for indoor use. Plus, it's a good science project to do with kids.

Can you put Citrus in compost?

You can use the peels, rinds, and pulp in your compost pile, which is a bonus for those who like using their juicer frequently or enjoy having fresh fruit every day. Citrus peels fit into the “green compost” category, which means it's a source of nitrogen. Citrus fruits do take longer than other fruits to break down.

What do you do with compost if you don't garden?

Donate it to a school garden, community garden, or farm. Contact your local Master Gardeners for ideas. Alternatively, you could see if anyone would like your un-composted scraps: Check with local gardens that have compost heaps.

What do you do with food scraps in an apartment?

It's a good idea to keep food scraps in your freezer so they don't start to rot before it's their turn to be composted. I keep mine in old yogurt containers. Every once in a while, use a trowel or a shovel to turn the compost and aerate the bin. This will keep your worms happy and the aerobic decomposition churning.

Do you need worms to compost?

Do I need to add worms to my compost pile? You do not need to add worms to your compost pile. Outside, composting happens with and without the help of earthworms. Worms will usually find their own way to a compost pile.

Can cooked rice go in compost?

Cooked or uncooked rice – Here is another one that most folks would probably think is just fine to add into their compost, but it is best to avoid both cooked and uncooked rice. Uncooked rice is going to attract rodents to your yard, while cooked rice can lead to the growth of unwanted bacteria.

Can onions go in compost?

Can you compost onions? The answer is a resounding, “yes.” Composted onion waste is just as valuable an organic ingredient as most any with a few caveats.

Is it OK to have maggots in my compost?

If you happen to find maggots in your compost, first of all, don't panic. Remember, they are harmless and actually quite helpful. But if you'd like to eliminate maggots from your compost bins, here are some tips: Add more browns: Your compost should be a balance of wet and dry materials.