Composting Without Composting

Even on its smallest, simplest and outright laziest scales, it’s always a good thing to repurpose our organic waste for better, more sustainable purposes. While there are more and less efficient ways to do so, if you’re keeping waste from the landfill and giving more of the earth back to itself, you’ve got two green thumbs up from us.

No Garden?

Even if you aren’t growing anything in the back yard, there’re still plenty of good ways to make use of your compost. Simple, easy-to-start methods like bokashi composting offer a compact, countertop alternative to the outdoor setup. Local schools, community gardens, municipalities and even apartment complexes often accept compost donations, so there’s no harm in getting the process started and finding a plant whisperer in need.

No Bin?

Trench composting is a highly attractive alternative to bin composting for one very specific requirement: nothing at all. Digging a hole 12+ inches deep and 10+ inches wide is usually enough to contain and decompose your produce scraps, coffee grounds and eggshells. Cover your waste with the same amount of soil, give it a month or two and start planting right on top. Voila. 

No Time?

If you’re a slightly more experienced composter equipped with a bin and a working knowledge of the bioscience, know there’re a few things you can do to speed up the process: Chop your waste into smaller pieces, keep your pile moist and make sure you’re hovering around a 2:1 ratio of browns to greens.

No Space?

Along with the countertop bins listed above, you may’ve already seen commercials for the ultra-trendy auto-composting recycling cans that’re making the rounds. These ideas, combined with wormier techniques like indoor vericomposting, offer plenty of options for creating black gold without much in the way of square footage.

No help?

That’s where we come in. Short of all the above, if composting still feels like a bridge too far, we’ve got you. We help hundreds of homes and businesses around Charlotte divert their waste from the landfills, and replace it with nutrient-rich soil that benefits the environment around us. Sign up before the end of April and we’ll even give you a month of service on the house!