Compost In Style

Posted by Sem Ng on 26th Apr 2019

 


We tend to believe that composting is for people with big backyards, it’s messy, difficult, smelly…and the list may go on. In fact, it is actually very easy regardless of where you live.

With increasing awareness of living sustainably, minimising organic waste and composting has become more common than you think.

If you haven't tried yet and wish to do so, you may be asking the following questions:

  • How can I compost?
  • What can I compost?
  • Where can I compost (alternatives)?

1. How Can I Compost?

There are four common methods you can use to compost your kitchen organic waste:
(a) Dome-shaped bins with well-fitting lids
(b) Bokashi bucket
(c) Worm farming
(d) In-ground worm farming

You can get various type of compost bins including Bokashi bucket at your local hardware store e.g. Bunnings. You can also get Bokashi bucket at Urban Revolution in Victoria Park, WA.

Dome-shaped bins with well-fitting lids

                  Bokashi bucket                  

Worm farming

                  In-ground worm farming
                (a)                (b)                   (c)                           (d)


If you’d like more details on each method, we found
a link on The City of Vincent website to be really useful: www.vincent.wa.gov.au/residents/waste-recycling/composting.aspx

2. What Can I Compost?

I was shocked to find out that organic wastes in landfills causes greenhouse gas emission. 

I certainly didn’t know about that! I wanted to make a difference but I had absolutely no clue about what I can or cannot compost. 

Here’s a guide that I found easy to follow: 

 

If you are using normal conventional composting method like (a), (c) and (d), refer to the YES category.

Please note that if you are using (b) Bokashi bucket, you can also compost the NO category but it is better to avoid big bones and excessive amount of liquid.

Oh, did you know that you can directly use coffee grounds and loose tea leaves to fertilise you citrus tree?

3. Where Can I Compost?

Don’t have the space or time to begin composting? Don’t worry – we’ve got some simple tips for you to get started! 

Food Scrap waste

If you live within Perth metropolitan area, the nearest dropoff location as follows:

Transpacific Cleanaway Transfer Station, City of Bayswater Council.


You can visit RecyclingNearYou and do a location search to find out if your council offers a kerbside food scraps collection service. 

Community Tip:

You could also contact your local community garden to find out if you can contribute kitchen organic wastes to their composting system, or ask any neighbour who has chickens if they could use extra scraps. 

Want to Connect with other Compost buddies?

Download ShareWaste app or visit their website to find out how to connect with people who wish to recycle their kitchen organic wastes with their neighbours who are already composting, worm-farming or keep chickens.

What if your local council does not offer an organic waste collection service?

If you are living in the city, it is very likely your council does not offer kerbside organic waste collection. 

Thinking of giving up? You don't have to!

Did you know that there are private service providers who offer kitchen organic waste collection to your doorstep? Here are some awesome providers just do that. 

Kooda

Kooda is the Nyoongar word for a carrying bag or gathering basket. The Nyoongar people are the indigenous people of the Perth Region in Western Australia. They have a strong connection to the land and hope to take kitchen waste and return it back to the land in a valuable form.

Kooda offers subscription service for those who cannot compost themselves and Kooda compost bucket is designed to fit into the modern kitchen.

All you have to do is separate your food scraps in the Kooda bucket and Kooda will do your composting for you.Visit www.kooda.com.au for more information.

                 

Biopak Compost Service

Biopak also offers monthly subscription and it is designed to close the loop on your packaging and food scraps. BioPak aims to have this compost service diverting up to 60% of your total waste from landfill by collecting compostable packaging, food scraps and organic waste all in ONE bin — no separation required. Visit www.biopak.com.au/compost-service for more information.

Divert all your organic waste along with compostable packaging from landfill. Separate all your food scraps and compostable packaging into a green bin. Collected weekly or more frequently under special request. Your organic waste is processes into nutrient rich compost in less than 8 weeks.