Our Guide to Composting

We've tackled the art of recycling- and now it's time to address the art of managing your food waste. That's right- it's time to talk composting!

If global food waste was a country, it would be the third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, after the USA and China. Composting your food scraps and green waste is an excellent way to reduce your waste footprint and make use of what you already have! 

Although your food scraps and organic waste will eventually break down if sent to landfill, it does so at a much slower rate. When biodegradable waste is sent to landfills, there isn't enough oxygen for it to break down at a normal rate, meaning that methane and greenhouse gases are created and expelled into the atmosphere. 

Composting not only avoids all of this, but it's much better for our gardens too! If you do have a garden or indoor plants, you can simply swap out any commercial fertilisers and use your composting tea to give your plant babies a natural boost. 

How can I compost?

When you think of composting in the traditional sense, you often imagine a huge backyard with plenty of space to bury your scraps, or having plenty of room for a worm farm or big composting bin. That's still a reality for many, but for those who don't live in a house, it can feel incredibly daunting! The truth is though, that really anyone can compost and we're here to tell you how!

First off, you'll have to decide on the right size and location of your compost bin. If you're in an apartment there are plenty of under the counter, odour free ways to compost like a Bokashi Bin or an Urban Composter. If you're recycling in a bin outside, you might have an outdoor composter, a worm farm or even something that can dig straight into your garden that will nurture your plants directly.  

How it's actually done

1. All you have to do is throw any food scraps directly into your composting bucket, making sure they have been cut into small pieces to allow them to break down easier. If you're using an outdoor bin, you can skip straight past step 2 and throw your scraps directly into the outdoor composting bin.
   
   
2. If you're using an indoor bucket, the next step is to spray it with some kind of Accelerator Spray which will ferment and break down any left-over food quickly. You can drain the juice from the bucket every few days, which you can dilute and add straight to your garden. If you don't have plants or a garden, it can go straight down the drain or the toilet.
   
   
3. Next, you will have to mix the scraps into outdoor soil or an outdoor composter where the scraps will break down. If you don't have anywhere to put your fermented scraps, see if your local council does organic waste pick-ups or check out Share Waste, an Aussie founded website connecting you with nearby neighbours who require your compost. It’s simple to use and super rewarding!
   
   If that's no good, your fermented food scraps can then go straight in the garbage bin. At this stage, you've already reduced the volume of your food waste by 300%! This means a significant reduction in the negative impact the harmful gases have on our atmosphere.
   
   
4. If you're still with us, outdoor composters, the next step is to rotate your compost bin to help the compost mature. The resulting compost is ready to use on your garden/plants when it’s dark, crumbly and mostly broken down with an earthy, soil-like smell to it. You can mix it straight into any existing soil

Any questions or anything we've missed? Reach out and let us know!