Composting, worm farming and bokashi fermentation are the 3 most popular ways to recycle your food scraps into healthy soil and fertiliser. Choose which suits you best depending on your household and garden situation.
Composting
The different composting systems all accelerate nature's natural processes by heating up the compost and concentrating the microbes into a confined space.
Composting systems vary in what they recycle, including all types of organic waste such as food, paper, cardboard and garden materials. They all process larger volumes, making them suitable for households with a lot of food and/or garden waste.
Traditional (also known as above ground) compost bins need to be placed on soil. As the scraps break down, nutrient-rich liquid will disperse into the surrounding soil leaving rich compost to be harvested from the bottom every 6-12 months. They require regular (twice weekly) turning with an aerator.
Tumbling composters sit off the ground and can be placed anywhere, including balconies. The liquid from this process drips out and can be harvested or allowed to soak into the ground below. They require regular rotation with a hand crank or by rotating the drum directly, and produce rich compost in around 3-6 months (a little faster than traditional systems).
Solar composters are partially dug into the ground and capture more heat from the sun which aerates the compost without the need to turn it. So, they are faster than the other two systems and require less maintenance. They do not compost garden organics but do process all kinds of food waste and even pet poo!
Works by accelerating nature’s natural process of breaking down organic waste into a rich nourishing compost, teeming with life and a supercharger for your garden.
Composting systems recycle all types of organic waste including food, paper, cardboard and garden materials. This makes them perfect for larger households.
Open-bottom units need to be placed on soil. As the scraps break down nutrient-rich liquid will disperse into the surrounding soil. After ~6 months compost can be harvested from the bottom.
Tumblers sit off the ground and can be placed anywhere, including balconies.
Works by aerobic decomposition, using the sun’s energy to break down food scraps into nutrients that are dispersed by worms and leaching liquids, which nourishes the surrounding soil.
Zero waste. Zero maintenance. Solar boosted composter.
The Green Cone recycles all types of food waste (including meat, dairy, bread and small bones) as well as small amounts of pet poo (not recommended if it is installed near food crops!). Designed to naturally circulate oxygen, there is no need for regular aeration making it perfect for medium to large households looking for a low-maintenance solution.
The system needs to be buried in well-draining soil, with full sun exposure for most of the day. As the food scraps break down, nutrient-rich liquid will disperse into the surrounding soil. No harvestable compost is produced.
Works with the help of wriggly warriors who chew through your food scraps, producing nutrient-rich worm castings and liquid fertiliser.
Worm farms recycle fruit and vegetables scraps, excluding citrus, onion, garlic and chilli.
The units can be placed indoors or outdoors, in a sheltered location out of the wind, rain and direct sunlight.
With a little tender loving care, worms will chew through your food scraps to produce nutrient-rich worm castings which can be harvested every 2-6 months. Liquid fertiliser also flows out of the farm on a regular basis, which can be diluted 10 to 1 with water to create free organic fertiliser for your garden.
Choose from the Farm, our compact, stylish award-winning worm farm made here by the Compost Revolution in Melbourne, Australia, or the large capacity Hungry Bin, made in New Zealand and ready to much through 2L of good a day!
A special culture of beneficial, naturally occurring microorganisms (EM) ferment food waste in anaerobic conditions, producing liquid fertiliser and fermented scraps.
Bokashi systems ferment all types of food waste (including meat, dairy, bread and small bones). The unit can be placed indoors or outdoors, in a cool location.
Food waste is added then mashed down to remove air pockets, followed by a spray of enzyme or handful of enzyme grain. Effective microorganisms (EM) then ferment food waste in anaerobic conditions.
Liquid fertiliser needs to be tapped every few days. Once the unit is full, the scraps are left to ferment for 1-2 weeks before being added to a compost bin or buried in soil. Fermented scraps will break down in 2-3 weeks in the soil delivering rich nutrients to surrounding plants.
The Green Cone Solar Composter accelerates decomposition even faster than traditonal compost bins by harnessing the sun's power in twin chambers to produce heat and convective aeration.
Processes lots of food scraps (inc. meat and dairy) + small amounts of pet poo!
Must be dug into well draining soil in a sunny location.
Almost zero maintenance.
Produces nutrients that enriches the surrounding soil (1m radius). Does not produce harvestable compost.
