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A report from Amateur Gardening describes ways people without gardens can compost food scraps, including a small bin, a wormery or a countertop bokashi system. It also suggests using shared outdoor space, while noting that methods, materials and local arrangements affect what can be composted and where.
Amateur Gardening has outlined several ways people without a garden can compost food scraps, including a small balcony bin, a wormery or countertop bokashi system. The advice offers options for renters and flat-dwellers who want to handle kitchen waste at home, while stressing the need to choose a method that fits the available space.
Chris Collins, writing for Amateur Gardening, says he has composted in a central London flat. On his balcony, he uses a 20-litre bin and combines shredded paper with kitchen waste in roughly equal proportions. That small-bin approach uses ordinary compost materials without requiring a garden, though the report does not give a full operating guide for every type of bin.
A wormery, or vermiculture system, is another option. The report describes a homemade design using three stacking trays: two trays have holes for drainage and airflow, while the bottom tray has no holes to collect liquid. The upper tray holds damp soil, compost or shredded paper, along with food scraps and worms. Collins says suitable worms, including brandling, red or tiger worms, can be bought from fishing shops.
For a countertop, the report recommends considering bokashi, a closed, oxygen-free pre-composting process. It uses an airtight bin with a tap and an inoculant, such as bran, to introduce microbes. The treated material can be placed at the bottom of containers, where it continues to break down. The article also suggests looking into a ground-level community space or car park, if permission and facilities are available.
Options for Flats and Small Homes
People who lack yards or gardens may otherwise have few convenient ways to keep food scraps out of general waste. The approaches described offer different scales and locations: a balcony bin, a wormery indoors or outdoors, a countertop bokashi bin, or a shared site. The practical choice depends on space, household rules and whether residents can maintain a system.
Community composting can also make the task collective rather than individual. Amateur Gardening suggests residents could contribute organic waste to a shared scheme, but a site would need agreement from the people responsible for the land and a workable plan for managing it. The report does not claim that any one method suits every household or quantify the environmental effect.
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Small-Scale Methods in the Report
The guidance focuses on making compost in limited space rather than on a single new product or policy. Collins’s account is based on his experience in a London flat; the figures and setup described are practical examples, not a guarantee of results for every home. The suggested 50:50 blend refers to balancing brown materials, such as shredded paper, with green materials, such as kitchen waste.
For a wormery, the report says to chop food into small pieces and names vegetable peelings, crushed eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags and torn egg boxes as possible additions. It estimates that crumbly worm compost may appear after eight to 12 weeks. The bottom tray may collect liquid, which the report says can be used as plant fertiliser when diluted. Well-rotted leaves are suggested as a separate addition to potting compost; the article advises asking the landowner before collecting them.
“I’ve lived in a central London flat for many years, so I know what it’s like to make compost in a tight space.”
— Chris Collins, writing for Amateur Gardening
What Depends on Your Setup
The report does not specify whether every bin type is suitable for every balcony, kitchen or building. Residents should check landlord, building and site rules before installing an outdoor system or using shared property. It also does not set out detailed troubleshooting advice, such as how to respond to odours, pests or a wormery that is too wet or dry.
The stated eight-to-12-week period is an estimate for seeing worm compost, not a fixed completion time. Conditions and the material added can affect how quickly compost develops. The report also does not provide a full list of accepted materials for bokashi or explain how to manage the treated material if a household has no containers, garden or community composting access.
Choosing a Practical Composting Route
Readers can compare the available methods against their space and household arrangements: a small bin for a balcony, a wormery where trays can be kept and tended, bokashi for a countertop, or a shared outdoor site with permission. For a shared scheme, the next step is to contact neighbours and the landowner or site manager about access and upkeep.
Amateur Gardening points readers to Garden Organic for further information on bokashi and composting. Any household starting a system will need to follow the instructions for its particular bin and manage its contents according to the space available.
Key Questions
Can I compost if I do not have a garden?
Yes. The report describes a small balcony bin, a wormery, countertop bokashi and community composting as possible routes, depending on the space and permissions available.
What can I put in a small wormery?
Amateur Gardening suggests small pieces of vegetable peelings, crushed eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags and torn egg boxes, balanced with brown materials such as shredded paper. It recommends roughly equal amounts of green and brown materials.
How long does a wormery take to produce compost?
The report estimates that crumbly worm compost may collect in the middle tray after eight to 12 weeks. The timing is not guaranteed and may vary with conditions and what is added.
What is bokashi composting?
Bokashi is described as an airtight, oxygen-free pre-composting process that uses an inoculant, such as bran. The treated material can be put at the bottom of containers to continue breaking down.
Can I collect leaves for compost?
The report says well-rotted leaves can be added to potting compost and suggests storing wet leaves separately in loosely tied black plastic sacks for a year or two. It advises getting the landowner’s permission before collecting leaves.
Source: amateurgardening.com
