How to Deal with Compost in an Apartment

If you don’t have a backyard compost (or a backyard) it is still so easy to compost if your city has green bin pick up!

A lot of people tell me they don’t like to compost because of two reasons, they either don’t like the smell, or they don’t want to take out the compost to the bin. But if you are throwing your food scraps into your garbage, it is going to smell anyway, and you have to take out the trash too! It may require a few more regular trips out to the green bin, but a great way to get some extra steps in to your day.

I keep a small compost bin on my counter, and I take it out a few times a week. In order to make cleaning out the bin easier, I line it with recycle paper leftover from the deli or from buying bread. The lining at the bottom allows you to make sure you get everything out of the bin without having touch any of the compost scraps.

If you put something liquid in the bin or you leave it for too long, the paper will get wet and it the compost will start to smell. Therefore, I would recommend not leaving it for more than a few days. However, if you are composting any dairy, meat of fish, I would recommend taking the compost out the same day, otherwise the smell will get bad. Another option is to keep your compost in your fridge if you have space which will also reduce the smell.

By having a compost bin or bag right on my counter, it is an easy reminder to throw things in the compost. You can also have a bin under your sink or tucked away if you don’t want to see it.

There are also some misconceptions about compostable and biodegradable “plastic” bags. These are not currently accepted in the municipal composting facilities and are considered a contaminant. The only compostable bags that can be used, apart from regular brown paper or newspaper is Bag to Earth.

You can use a Bag to Earth instead of using a compost bin and throw the whole thing in the green bin and you don’t have to clean anything. But of course, there is a cost to buying the bags. (They are available at Costco)

Another option if you don’t like taking out the bin that often or don’t produce a lot of compost is to keep a container in your freezer. When you are cooking you can pull it out and put your compost scraps in the container, and then put it back in the freezer, and only take it out when it gets full. This way there really is no smell.

So there are several ways to store your compost, just find a way that works best for you! It is now easier than ever to compost with city pick up services. To learn more about why composting is so important check out The Truth About Composting