Overview
Living in an apartment does not mean giving up on composting. There are several composting options suitable for apartment dwellers. Vermicomposting, bokashi bins, high-tech composters, and traditional composters are the best options for composting in an apartment.
Vermicomposting, also known as worm composting, is a great, odor-free option for composting in apartments or on balconies. Red wriggler worms consume and break down organic waste, leaving behind nutrient-rich castings and worm tea, which gardens love. Worm farms are more suited to apartments that have a balcony, but it is possible to compost through a worm farm indoors using a robust bin. Vermicomposting requires a little extra time to care for the worms, but the process is simple and easy to maintain.
Bokashi bins are a Japanese method of “shading off” composting that uses micro-organisms to ferment a wide array of food scraps, including things that cannot be fed to worms like meat, citrus, and other acidic foods. Bokashi bins pair well with vermicomposters because the product it yields must be broken down further by either burying in soil or feeding to worms. These bins are widely available worldwide and suitable for apartment composting.
High-tech composters like the Vitamix Food Cycler use a combination of heat and vibration to break down organic waste in a matter of hours. These are designed to be fast and odorless, as well as able to break down a larger variety of scraps, including meat scraps, which cannot be fed to worms. This is a good option if you have a little extra to invest in your composter and want something super efficient to compost inside your apartment.
Traditional composters like the Envirocycle Mini rely on either decomposition (aerobic composters) or fermentation (anaerobic composters) to break down food. As such, they are better suited to balcony composting due to natural odors emitted in the process. Composting with traditional composters requires a little maintenance, but they are easy to use and maintain.
In conclusion, apartment composting is possible with the right composting option. Vermicomposting, bokashi bins, high-tech composters, and traditional composters are all great options for apartment dwellers. Choose the composting option that best suits your needs and start composting today.
