We're interested in making the jump to composting because it would really cut down our kitchen waste that just doesn't belong in the trash can. We've read the reviews here on Apartment Therapy about indoor composters but it seems a little complicated and possible stinky. Luckily, if you live in or around Boston, the city is selling outdoor compost bins at heavily subsidized prices...
For under $50 you can get a compost bin that will produce 200 lbs of compost soil a year. The bin doesn't take up much space so even if you only have a small outdoor space you could find room for it. Because we have a very small shared yard, we'll probably try to get our neighbors using it, too. The only problem might be finding a function for all that high quality soil at the end of the year!
Head over to the City of Boston site for their simple composting directions and head to the Boston Building Materials Coop (100 Terrace St. Mission Hill) to pick up a composter. For Cambridge residents, we've heard that there's a town compost you can contribute to if you'd rather not start your own.
Do you compost in the city?
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I actually have one of these. I bought it years ago for a mere $20--my husband thought I was crazy to wait in line for an hour, but it was worth it. But I'd love to hear from someone else who composts because I'd like to make mine more efficient.
view glurf's profile
I live in Kansas and have a compost pile in the backyard. I have a counter top compost binny that is starting to draw insects. Yuck!
I would LOVE something like the machine above!
view puck's profile
I've never tried an outdoor bin, but I'd recommend that city people who want to compost lobby their local government. Here in Seattle, the garbage company not only collects your compost in a small bin weekly, but requires all residential homes to sign up for compost service. Plus, you can compost everything, including meat, because it's taken to a large scale facility that can handle the odor. I love it. It even settled the paper towel argument between me and my roommate. She cut back and I compost the ones we do use!
view lurker2209's profile
I have the same exact composter as the picture. The city that I live in (alhambra, suburb of los angeles) sells these bins for $10 to all residents! We dump all of our vegetable scraps, lawn clippings, coffee grinds into this thing. The bin itself is pretty spacious and can hold a lot of junk. the opening at the top is wide enough to allow me to reach in with a pitchfork and turn the pile.
i love my compost bin!
view lotto's profile
Here in Toronto we've had city subsidized compost bins for at least 15 yrs. About 6 years ago they started compost collection from internal bins. It's really reduced the city's waste production.
view rapidtransitman's profile
I've been using one for about four months it certainly cuts down on what goes out in the black bags. I'd love advice on the best way to manage it and it does tend to attract flies can I avoid this.
view hrhprincessfiona's profile
my wife and I just picked one up from the Fall River Dept. of Public works for a mere $14.00.
view coroa's profile
I have one of these in Boston, and it's pretty great - makes a huge difference in the amount of trash we put out. As great as it is though, I really feel that we'd be better off with two, since after a solid year of 4 people contributing to the compost, we have yet to create any usable soil since we keep adding new materials. I think the way to go is to have two bins that you rotate in 3-6 month cycles.
Also, one note on the city bins - squirrels have managed to chew a hole through one of the sides to get their dinner. I don't mind, but they do pull quite a bit of material out before they choose what they want to eat.
view kiddo katsu's profile
Vancouver has the same program. We got ours a little over a year ago and it's amazing how quickly stuff just sitting there decomposes.
view truenic's profile
what to do about raccoons?
view iroh's profile
Stirring the compost periodically to aerate it is important, and you may need to water it occasionally to get it "cooking" most efficiently. The Boston Building Materials Co-op has an article with composting tips in the most recent newsletter (page 2):
http://www.bostonbmrc.org/bostonbmrc/handsOnspring09.pdf
You can also check out the Rodale Book of Composting from your local library for lots of info and tips.
view Deb B.'s profile