Apartment composting using the Bokashi method is flexible and convenient because it can handle a wider variety of food scraps than some other forms of compost.

Here are the basics materials that go into my Bokashi compost bin:  

• fruit and vegetable scraps (seeds, skins, etc.), including citrus
• eggshells
• coffee grounds
• cooked food (such as the scraps from making broth)
• meat and fish scraps (including smaller bones)
• paper products (napkins, paper towels, newsprint, masking tape)
• tea bags (except synthetic bags, which I avoid)
• bread
• dairy
• flowers
• Small pieces of wood, such as wooden skewers, and handles from bamboo toothbrushes.

What don’t I compost?

• bio plastics. I avoid these wherever I can.
• large bones

Bokashi vs worms

I choose the Bokashi method over a worm farm for a few reasons, but chiefly because it is simple to manage and explain to others, because it has fewer no-nos. Example: Worms apparently don’t like citrus or onions, of which I am a frequent eater. Interestingly though, when I bury my Bokashi at my sister-in-law’s place – citrus, onions and all – the worms get fully amongst it. Maybe no one told them? Have a peek at some before and after shots of the Bokashi compost method to see.

If you’re interested, you can learn more about why I choose the Bokashi method for composting in a small apartment, and what you’ll need to get started.