How to Compost on a Budget: Making Sustainability Affordable

Many people think composting requires expensive bins, fancy equipment, and a big backyard—but the truth is, anyone can compost without spending a fortune. Whether you live in a small apartment or a house with a garden, there are simple, budget-friendly ways to turn food scraps into nutrient-rich compost.

If you want to reduce waste, improve soil, and help the planet without breaking the bank, this guide is for you. Here’s how to start composting on a budget using free or low-cost materials!

1. Use a DIY Compost Bin Instead of Buying One

Many compost bins on the market cost hundreds of rands, but you don’t need a fancy system to start composting. Instead, you can make your own compost bin for free using materials you already have.

✅ DIY Backyard Compost Bin:

• Use a plastic bucket, wooden crate, or an old trash can.

• Drill small holes around the sides for airflow.

• Place it in a shaded area and start adding food scraps and garden waste.

✅ DIY Indoor Compost Bin (for Small Spaces):

• Use an old plastic container or storage tub.

• Add air holes for ventilation.

• Keep it under the sink or on a balcony.

💡 Tip: If you have an old cardboard box, you can even use that as a compost bin—it will decompose over time along with the food scraps!

2. Get Free Browns for Your Compost Pile

A good compost pile needs a balance of greens (food scraps) and browns (dry materials like leaves and paper). Instead of buying mulch or composting materials, use free alternatives!

✅ Free “Browns” You Can Use:

• Fallen leaves from your yard or neighborhood.

• Shredded newspaper, paper bags, or cardboard (just remove plastic coatings).

• Wood chips or sawdust from a local sawmill (ask if they give it away for free).

💡 Tip: If you live in an area with lots of trees, collect bags of dry leaves in autumn—you’ll have free composting material all year!

3. Compost Without Buying Worms or Special Bins

If you want to try vermicomposting (composting with worms) but don’t want to buy worms, you can find them for free.

✅ How to Get Free Composting Worms:

• Look in your garden or under rocks—red wiggler worms naturally live in organic-rich soil.

• Ask local fishermen or garden centers if they have extra worms.

• Check community gardening groups—some people share worms for free!

💡 Tip: Instead of buying a worm bin, use an old bucket or plastic container with holes for air circulation.

4. Save Money by Composting Kitchen Scraps Instead of Buying Fertilizer

Commercial fertilizers can be expensive, but composting provides free, organic nutrients for your garden. Instead of throwing away food scraps, turn them into homemade plant food!

✅ Best Free Kitchen Scraps for Composting:

• Banana peels (rich in potassium for plant growth).

• Eggshells (add calcium to prevent plant diseases).

• Coffee grounds & tea bags (boost soil nutrients).

• Vegetable peels (break down quickly and enrich compost).

💡 Tip: If you don’t have a garden, use compost for potted plants, balcony gardens, or community gardens.

5. Try Trench Composting for Free Fertilizer

If you don’t have space for a compost bin, trench composting is a zero-cost way to compost directly in your garden.

✅ How to Do It:

• Dig a small trench (15–20 cm deep) in your garden.

• Add food scraps and cover them with soil.

• Over time, the food scraps break down and enrich the soil.

💡 Tip: This is perfect for vegetable gardens or flower beds, as it naturally feeds plant roots over time.

6. Start a Community Composting Group & Share Costs

If you don’t have the space or resources to compost alone, team up with neighbors or community members to share costs and resources.

✅ Ways to Share Composting Costs:

• Split the cost of a shared compost bin for an apartment complex or neighborhood.

• Trade compost materials (someone with lots of leaves can swap with someone who has kitchen scraps).

• Join a compost collection service like The Compost Kitchen, where your food waste gets turned into compost without the hassle.

💡 Tip: Check if your local municipality offers free compost bins or workshops—some cities provide these to encourage composting!

7. Use Bokashi Composting for Small Spaces (Cheap & Easy!)

If you don’t have space for an outdoor compost bin, Bokashi composting is a budget-friendly indoor method that lets you compost all food waste, including meat and dairy.

✅ How to Start Bokashi Composting on a Budget:

• Use an old bucket or plastic container with a tight lid (no need to buy a special Bokashi bin).

• Instead of expensive Bokashi bran, use homemade bran (fermented wheat bran, sawdust, or even dried coffee grounds).

• Keep the bucket in your kitchen, balcony, or garage.

💡 Tip: Bokashi composting ferments food scraps, so they don’t smell—even in small spaces!

8. Compost Without Buying a Thermometer or Expensive Tools

Some composting guides recommend buying special thermometers, aerators, or tumblers, but these aren’t necessary!

✅ Budget-Friendly Composting Hacks:

• Turn compost with a garden fork or stick instead of an expensive aerator.

• Check compost temperature with your hand—if it feels warm, decomposition is happening.

• Use an old kitchen scale to track food waste instead of fancy monitoring tools.

💡 Tip: Compost should feel moist like a wrung-out sponge—if it’s too dry, add food scraps; if too wet, add paper or leaves.

9. Join a Free Composting Program or Collection Service

If you can’t compost at home, check for free composting programs in your area. Some cities, community gardens, and non-profits offer free food waste collection services.

✅ Where to Find Free Composting Services:

• Local farmers’ markets or garden centers.

• Community gardens or municipal composting sites.

• Composting services like The Compost Kitchen, which picks up food waste for a small fee.

💡 Tip: Even if you can’t compost at home, you can still divert food waste from landfills by dropping it off at a composting hub!

Composting on a Budget: Simple, Free, and Sustainable

Composting doesn’t have to be expensive—in fact, it’s one of the cheapest and most sustainable ways to reduce waste and nourish soil.

By using DIY compost bins, free materials, and smart composting methods, you can turn food waste into a valuable resource without spending a cent.

🌱 Want an easy, low-cost way to compost? Join The Compost Kitchen’s compost collection service and let us do the work for you!