How to choose the right compost solution for your household
By Lottie Dalziel
Looking for a simple way to almost halve your household waste? Did you know that the average household's bin is made up of around 40% organic matter? Things like banana peels, eggshells and food scraps which when they go to landfill all emit toxic greenhouse gases. You'd be surprised at how many odd household items you can compost like vacuum dust, pet hair and more - discover the full list here.
Dispose of your organic matter responsibly, here's how to pick the right option for you.
P.s if you're looking for a kitchen collection caddy look no further, the Little Pepino compost bin comes with a handy handle so you can carry it to whichever vessel that you choose.
1. Compost bin
Composting is a process that has been used for many years, it is a great way to reduce your waste and create a luscious natural fertiliser for garden. Make sure you add 2/3 dry matter like newspaper and dried leaves to your bin to keep it healthy and breaking down your food nicely.
Space: a patch of dirt that you can place the bin on top of.
Capacity: as much or as little as you have!
Recommendations: firstly look on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree as you'll often find people giving away their old bins. If not, use the Compost Revolution website to get a discounted bin or head to your local hardware. This is the compost bin that we have.
Read our full guide on how to start composting.
2. Worm farm
A fun project for the kids and an efficient system for your home worm farms offer a practical solution for a variety of households. An established worm farm can eat up to 4kg each week, worms are hungry little beings with each worm eating their own body weight in food every day!
Space: a shady area, balconies and a back corner of yard is perfect.
Capacity: 4kg of scraps each week
Recommendations: this is the worm farm we use!
Ready to get started? Here are six tips you need to know about worm farms.
3. Bokashi bin
A bokashi bin is great for people who live in small spaces with no backyard and those who don't want the fuss of looking after their own composting system. The "liquid gold" bokashi juice is an amazing natural fertiliser just remember to dilute it 1:20 when you water your garden. You will still need to find somewhere to bury the contents of your bin once it's full, this sought after process will help regenerate soil in just two weeks. Ask a friend or neighbour if you can bury the contents in their backyard or look on the ShareWaste app.
Space: store under your kitchen sink or in the laundry.
Capacity: 18L but more as your food breaks down
Recommendations: Bokashi Bin
Find out more about bokashi compost bins here.
4. Little Pepino's Kitchen Compost Bin
Little Pepino's kitchen compost bin is the ideal way to keep your kitchen looking clean and clutter free. Perfect for small kitchens, this bin is made of a mixture of resin and recycled bamboo fibre. Made from high quality materials and engineered to be exceptionally durable.
What you need to know
- 3.3L capacity (aka holds up to 4kg of scraps)
- Store your fruit and vegetable scraps without the mess
- It includes an activated carbon filter to remove any funky odours (naturally)
- Easy to clean, simply wipe and use again and again
- Handy handle makes transporting to your garden or chooks oh so easy!
- Plant-based, made from 50% bamboo fibres, 20% corn starch and 30% resin
- Plus, it looks swish and stylish!
Size: 23 x 23 x 28cm
Capacity: 3.3L or 4kg of scraps
Materials: 50% bamboo fibres, 30% resin and 20% corn starch
Care instructions: To clean your compost bin wipe down after emptying or for stubborn stains soak in soapy water. Replace the activated carbon filter every 4-6 months.
Additional information
If none of the options above suit your household another solution could be connecting with your local neighbours and finding a compost bin to donate your waste to! Download the ShareWaste app to find your closest spot.
About the author
Lottie Dalziel is the founder and editor in chief of Banish. She has a passion for the environment and wants to help educate and inspire individuals to make small changes towards a more sustainable future. Stay up to date with her latest challenges on Instagram @banish.au.