2The perfect home
Install your compost bin on a flat surface in a spot which is conveniently located, so that you can access it easily.
Keep your bin close to your house so it's convenient to empty your scraps. Position it away from windows and neighbours. Compost breaks down faster in the sun, but requires less aeration when in the shade or protected from the rain.
Hard surfaces like cement, bricks or balconies are suitable but sometimes liquid can drain from the tumbler, particularly if adding lots of food high in water content or if it has been raining. This can be collected in a bucket and used as a liquid fertiliser.
For a shared system to work smoothly, start with two bins — remembering to start small at first to gain buy-in. Get identical bins and add labels to the lids (available from council) with clear colour-coded instructions: green for the active bin/s ("feed me — equal parts kitchen and garden scraps") and red for the resting bin/s ("leave me— I'm cooking"). Get in touch and we’ll send you ready to print labels.
Everyone feeds the active bin (the one labeled with the green sticker). When it's full, swap the lids — so the red goes on the resting bin while a new or emptied bin becomes the active bin with the green lid. This simple rotation means there's always somewhere to add scraps and always a bin quietly composting in the background.
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Make your compost bin rat-resistant by placing it at least 30cm away from any structures, fences or palings.
Got a friend with a compost bin or worm farm? Grab a handful of their compost or worm tea to give your compost a kick-start.
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Worms generally find their way into compost bins and improve the soil by aerating it. They also break down nutrients in the soil, letting plants in your garden absorb them more easily.
Setting up in an Apartment Building?
Get permission
Before setting up any composting system on a balcony or in a common area, check your lease or strata/body corporate rules. Some buildings restrict what can be placed on balconies or in a common garden or shared spaces. If in doubt, ask your building or strata manager. Getting permission first saves awkward conversations later.
Identify
- Where the compost bin(s) will go.
- Who will look after it and take responsibility for maintenance and removal if required.
- What will the finished compost be used for?
- Offer to take feedback or do a trial to build confidence.
A well-run system that never smells is your best advertisement — once neighbours see it working, enthusiasm often grows.
Choose a suitable location or provide options if possible that are easy to access for all, does not obstruct people or vehicle movements and is out of the way. Be willing to consider different locations and remind people it’s easy to move it if it doesn’t work.
