How can one practice some simple composting in an apartment?

Answer 1

I had that same problem years back...What I did was liquidate my kitchen scraps & made smoothies...You don't make good soil that way, but you provide your plants with a nice boost of nutrients right away, rather than waiting for your compost to turn to soil.

Blend all of your kitchen scraps, besides meat, in a blender & gradually add water to make a nice watery texture, and water your plants...I know this sounds weird, but I had some of the best vegetables I have ever seen, after doing this for a while.

If you are wanting to compost to make soil...I would recommend that you do it somewhere you're not going to smell it. It doesn't stink too awfuly bad, it just has a stale smell that isn't too appealing.

If you like animals... Toss your meat outside for the local cats & dogs...

I hope this helps...God bless you for trying to get involved.

Answer 2

Buy a Rubbermaid tote and drill holes in it for air vents and compost with red worms. It is called vermicomposting. You should read up on the basics. There is a book from Mary Applehoff "Worms Eat My Garbage" that is a good reference.
Be prepared for fruit flies and learn how to trap them. Turn the bin often since the decomposition can give off an odor.

Answer 3

Not take out your garbage? Compost stinks. Get an airproof container, throw in your organic garbage, cover with layer of dirt, continue..kind of like a lasagna. But why bother? It will take a long time to get any benefits from it and it will stink and heat up the place from the microbial activity.

Answer 4

First of all we have to clasify trash at least keep the organic to one side ,like in a plasic bin with a lid

if you are in a apartment ,if you have a balcony get a big plastic bin drill some holes in the side and lid ,

and add a bit of sand now and again to put over the trash ,you should realy stir or move the stuff at times to airate it and ensure that the decomposition is overall ,keep moist

there are special compost bins you can get for apartments ,best to keep on the balcony where there is airflow.

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a general note on compost

bones,treetrunks,cardboard,eggshells,old clothes(if they are organic),poop,leaves,kitchen waste,foodscraps,newspaper,
kitty litter and even the dead cat

All can be put on the compost heap

as long as you seal it with a covering of leaves .or put a piece of plastic on top ,
keep it moist and in the shade ,it will then get hot enough to kill all parasites

the worms will devellop,and take care of everything ,the moisture helps decomposition

the plastic keeps in the moisture and protects the worms from predators .like chickens ,birds armadillos,and even dogs .i have seen going in to eat my worm culture

you could add a bit of lime now and again
to make the process more potent

HOW
make the compost in a shallow hole ,so that it retains more humidity,
about 2 square meters is good ,and have it under a tree or put a little roof over i t,which does not have to be water proof ,so a palm thatch is enough,

and makesure the garden sprinkler gets there or spray some water on it ,at least once a week,dont have it water logged or the worms will drown or leave


Organic waste is responsible for 70% of contamination in Land fills if it goes out with the trash ,so please do not do this

RECYCLING
Cardboard is also acceptable for recycling

so is glass if you classify it in colors,and
aluminium cans

Answer 5

you might consider getting a clean container to do it in an apartment,however,other residents won't be happy to have a compost in their apartment even if you maintain the best hygiene.
It will be suitable if you live in a home,you can dig a hole or trench in your backyard and bury all the decomposable waste like potato peels,orange peels and others.Water it enough.
If you practice this in an apartment,there are chances of army ants and other creeping insects getting into your room.
My mum makes compost in our backyard and we have big trouble with ants all the time.

Answer 6

Keep your composting cage out away from the apartment, perhaps nearer to your garden, or the trash dumpsters.

Answer 7

If you are going to do composting, don't forget to get some worms to put in it to speed up the decomp process.

Answer 8

You can get a small garbage can with a lid and put it on your counter or under the sink...put everything except your meats and dairy in it. Use it for a small garden as fertilizer or ask the apartment people if you can add it to their gardens...

Answer 9

hi buy a bokashi bucket, they sit in your kitchen they use a process of fermentation that turns the process into fertaliser and also proudces very potent plant juice..
They also emit no smell.
You can put almost any scraps in it right down to eggshell bits and bits of paper...
As what to do with the fertiliser go dump it on the local trees they will love it whilst reducing waste and landfill.

Answer 10

get a countertop composter for your kitchen and a small compost box for your porch. Do you have soemwhere to use your compost?