Composting and Apartment Living

[jenneology]

How likely is it to compost food scraps in an apartment complex? I'd like to get a small compost bin for the kitchen, and can probably get some yard scraps, though I'm not sure if I would have enough. Does anyone have experience composting food scraps in an apartment complex?

[mysticmomma]

coming here to ask this very question!

[librarybooks]

I would recommend a small worm composting set-up for an apartment with limited space. In order to compost without worms, you need some amount of space in order to develop enough mass to generate heat to break materials down. Worms do all the work in a vermicomposting system, however, and in a much smaller space. Once they get going, they can eat a considerable amount of food per day. My worms live in a 20 or 30 gallon tupperware-style container that I got for $5 at target. I drilled holes for drainage and air (very important) and added a tray underneath to keep it from dripping all over. The worms can really make short work of all of our food and veggie scraps - but avoid citrus, meat, dairy, animal wastes, bones, and oil/grease, it's not good for them. Also, I shred our junk mail to use as their bedding, so it is kind of a two-fer-one success story.

A lot of people also like the bokashi composting method, but I have never tried it and it seems like more set-up and work than I'm willing to do. Anyway, that method comes from Japan, and is supposed to be great for small spaces where you can't have a giant (potentially smelly) compost pile. If worms don't appeal to you, it's worth research that.