Can You Compost in Small Spaces? A Guide for Apartment Dwellers

If you live in an apartment or a home without a garden, you might think composting is impossible. Where would you put a compost bin? Won’t it smell? What about pests? These are common concerns, but the truth is, composting in small spaces is easier than you think—and it’s one of the best ways to reduce food waste while creating a sustainable lifestyle.

Even if you don’t have a backyard, you can still turn your food scraps into nutrient-rich compost that benefits the environment. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best composting methods for small spaces, how to keep things clean and odor-free, and how to make the most of your compost—even if you don’t have a garden!

Why Compost in an Apartment?

Food waste doesn’t just disappear when we throw it away. In landfills, food scraps break down without oxygen, producing methane—a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than CO₂. By composting, you:

🌱 Reduce landfill waste and lower your carbon footprint.

🌱 Turn food scraps into nutrient-rich compost instead of trash.

🌱 Support healthy soil if you donate or use your compost for plants.

🌱 Make a real impact, even without a garden!

The best part? Small-space composting is odor-free, compact, and easy to maintain once you get the hang of it.

The Best Composting Methods for Small Spaces

1. Vermicomposting (Composting with Worms) 🪱

Vermicomposting is one of the best solutions for apartment composting. It uses red wiggler worms to break down food scraps into nutrient-rich worm castings (a natural fertilizer). Since it’s an enclosed system, it’s odor-free, low-maintenance, and easy to set up indoors.

✅ Perfect for: Apartments, balconies, and kitchens

✅ Pros: Small, efficient, and fast decomposition

✅ Cons: Requires worms (but they’re easy to care for!)

💡 How to Get Started:

1. Get a worm bin (buy one or DIY with a plastic container with air holes).

2. Add moist bedding (shredded newspaper, coconut coir, or cardboard).

3. Introduce red wiggler worms—they eat half their body weight in food scraps daily!

4. Feed them vegetable scraps, fruit peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells (but avoid citrus, onions, and meat).

5. Harvest worm castings every few months for fertilizing plants or donating to community gardens.

   
   

2. Bokashi Composting (Fermenting Your Food Scraps) 🥡

Bokashi composting is a great option for tiny spaces because it ferments food scraps (including meat and dairy) using beneficial microbes. It’s airtight and odor-free, making it ideal for keeping inside your kitchen.

✅ Perfect for: Kitchen countertops or under the sink

✅ Pros: Fast process (just a few weeks), no strong smell

✅ Cons: Requires bokashi bran (a special microbial mix)

💡 How to Get Started:

1. Get a bokashi bin (a sealed container with a spout).

2. Add food scraps and sprinkle bokashi bran over each layer.

3. Once full, let it ferment for 2 weeks.

4. Drain the bokashi liquid every few days—it's a great natural fertilizer!

5. Bury the fermented scraps in soil (or mix with a compost pile) to complete decomposition.

3. Compact Electric Composters ⚡

If you want the fastest, most convenient way to compost in an apartment, an electric composter (like Lomi or FoodCycler) might be your answer. These machines heat and grind food waste into compost in just a few hours.

✅ Perfect for: Busy city dwellers with no time for traditional composting

✅ Pros: Super fast, no worms or maintenance required

✅ Cons: Expensive and uses electricity

💡 How to Get Started:

1. Place your food scraps inside the machine.

2. Press a button and let it do the work.

3. In just a few hours, you’ll have dry, compost-like material ready for plants!

Where to Use Your Compost Without a Garden

Even if you don’t have outdoor space, you can still put your compost to good use:

🌱 Feed your houseplants – Mix compost into potting soil for extra nutrients.

🌱 Donate it to a community garden – Many urban farms and gardens will gladly accept compost.

🌱 Use it for balcony plants – Great for potted veggies and herbs!

🌱 Share it with a friend or neighbor – Someone with a garden will appreciate the extra soil boost.

Composting in Small Spaces is Easier Than You Think!

Living in an apartment doesn’t mean you have to send food waste to the landfill. With a simple composting system, you can reduce waste, enrich soil, and contribute to a healthier planet—all from your own kitchen.

No garden? No problem. Whether you use worms,

, or an electric composter, small-space composting fits any lifestyle. Every food scrap saved makes a difference.