How to Compost in Your Apartment

Let’s face it. We’ve all had a moment when we discard our pineapple tops, eggshells, banana peel and other organic kitchen waste and thought, however fleetingly, that it’s a shame that all that has to go to waste. An entire watermelon skin, the peels of a dozen now-naked bananas and a tubful of eggshells from the latest baking experiment can start to add up in the trash can after just a few hours, and then suddenly you’re left with no choice but to add another bag full of trash to the dumpster. A full bag of perfectly good organic matter — just gone. But what else are we to do?

Well, it turns out that changing the way we get rid of our food waste can make a huge impact on the world around us, and one way to do that is by composting our leftovers.

“Do you need a yard and a bathtub of worms to compost,” we hear you ask? Certainly not! Composting is as easy and convenient as you want it to be, and it’s a great project that can also positively impact the environment.

What is composting?

Composting is a natural process that has been occurring since the beginning of life on this planet. 

Dead organic matter decays over time, and microorganisms feed off this decay in order to break down the chemicals and nutrients into simpler organic matter. The matter then returns to the soil and can sustain new plant growth which then decays, decomposes, grows again, and continues through this cycle again and again.

Whether it’s bacteria breaking down a rotten apple or fungi feeding off a fallen tree, decomposition is a crucial step in the nutrient cycle which sustains every living thing on the planet. Decomposition creates healthy soil and supports new growth, something that every animal and human benefits from immensely, and is something that we as humans have come to utilize as a tool for growing our own sustenance. 

That’s where composting comes in. Compost is the healthy soil that results from the process of decomposition, and so when we convert our food waste into healthy soil, we are actively involved in the decomposition cycle to create compost!

Why is composting important?

Waste reduction

Aside from being one of the main reasons there is still life on this planet, composting plays a large role in our journey of reducing waste and lessening our negative impact on our environment.

It turns out that between 25-50% of all our waste ends up coming from organic matter, such as yard waste, food, Christmas trees or Halloween pumpkins. The average American throws away about a pound of food each day, most of it comprising of fruits and vegetables. All in all, that’s about 150,000 tons of food each day over the nation, and about 40 million tons over the course of a year. 

When food waste ends up in the landfill, it doesn’t decompose like it would normally. The organic waste releases methane gas and rots into sewage sludge, both of which are toxic to the air and soil. Landfills don’t allow decomposable matter to actually decompose, even the most natural of food wastes.

By composting your natural waste instead of throwing it away, you give the organic matter a chance to truly decompose and return all its nutrients back to the soil.

It’s good for green thumbs.

Compost soil is some of the most nutrient-rich soil out there and is great for your indoor plants. By composting your own soil or supporting local stores that do, you’ll make you, your plants and your planet happy!

Composting saves other natural resources!

Plants love better soil because it’s got more nutrients, better consistency and more balanced chemicals than regular dirt. You’ll likely see that you don’t have to water your plants as often, or that you don’t need to use artificial lighting to get them to grow in the winter. That may save a miniscule amount of energy in your monthly utilities bill, but it still makes a difference!

How to compost

Now that you’re excited to get your hands in some DIY dirt, there are a few things to remember before starting to compost.

There are two kinds of composting: aerobic composting and vermicomposting (using worms). If you’re wanting to have your compost rig set up indoors, you should go for the worm compost or just opt for a food waste collection bin. If you have an outdoor setup, which isn’t always possible for apartment-dwellers, then you can go for the aerobic. 

In aerobic composting, microorganisms use oxygen to break down the organic material into smaller pieces, making compost. This composting method does tend to result in strong odors, pest attraction and compost leakage, so it’s impractical for indoor use.  

The worm composting method uses worms to decompose the natural material. The worms eat the nutrients and, through digestion, they turn the matter into compost. Yes, it’s worm poop. No, it’s not gross. This is literally what worms have been doing for millennia, so just respect their work ethic, yeah?

This method doesn’t require too much work and doesn’t produce any strong smells, so it’s a good way to go for indoor composting. 

Here’s how you can set up your own indoor worm composting bin.

A third option, and one that’s less work overall, is to collect your food scraps and take them to your nearest compost drop-off. Just keep a small container on your counter and toss in your compostable items which if you’re wondering what those are, you can see on a list right here!

If you’re looking to dispose of your food waste in an eco-friendly way, then composting is a great way to go! It’s easy, it’s sustainable and, if you decide to go with the worms, then you essentially have a tiny worm army operating in your apartment! How cool!

Have fun!

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Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/jokevanderlej8