Composting Tips to Keep Your Apartment Odour-Free

Fresh vegetable scraps in a bowl for compost. — Getty Images

Composting is an important step towards reducing landfill and keeping the environment healthy. But composting in small spaces, such as an apartment, can come with minor discomforts. That’s because composting is more complex than you may think, and avoiding the rules required to do so effectively could create unwanted smells in your home.

In this article, we’ll break down some steps to improving the state of your compost bin and provide helpful tips to keep odours at bay.

An overhead shot of vegetables and herbs being prepped beside a compost bin. — Unsplash/Lenka Dzurendova

Begin by Doing Your Research

If you’ve never composted, you might make assumptions that ultimately work against you and the environment. It’s essential to read up on composting rules to understand which items can and cannot go in your bin, as well as what would create the worst odours and potentially attract pests. Your landlord or property manager can likely provide some insight concerning your particular building and space. Still, reading up on processes and regulations in your city or province can also be helpful.

To help get you started, we’ll highlight some specifics as we move along in this article.

Choose a Secure Bin for Indoor Use

First and foremost, you’ll want to choose a bin meant explicitly for compost use — the materials, size and lid can help keep odours to a minimum. Search for compost bins designed for apartments that could help trap smells, or bins that offer charcoal filter systems. If a compost bin with all the bells and whistles is out of budget, fear not! Instead, look for a vessel that has a tight, secure lid. Not only will a tight lid help keep smells out, but it can also deter bugs and potential rodents from attempting to get into the bin.

A person places food scraps from a palte into a compost bin. — Pexels/Greta Hoffman

Stick to Green and Brown Items for Low-Smell

Understanding the impact of certain items in your compost bin can help determine what to eliminate. Most folks generally focus their composting efforts on nitrogen-rich “green” and carbon-rich “brown” materials, layering brown items on the bottom and green on top to strike a balance. The green materials comprise wet items such as fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells, plant and garden waste, coffee grinds and tea (bags removed); whereas brown items consist of dry things like shredded newspaper and cardboard, dry leaves, and straw or hay.

Watch Out for Meat and Dairy Products

While it’s easy to toss every food scrap in your compost bin without second thought, be mindful of composting dairy and meat. Dairy products, in particular, take a long time to break down due to their high fat and moisture content. What’s worse is the potential pest and bacterial contamination issues when meat and dairy land in a compost bin. It’s also the most smelly of all compostable items as they decompose quickly and produce odours that, in turn, attract bugs and other pests to your compost pile. To compost these items, wrap them in newspaper and make sure to throw them out quickly.

A person holding a banana peel over a bin. — Pexels/SHVETS production

Wash Compost Bins Regularly

An easy way to avoid potential compost smells is to wash your bin consistently to keep it fresh. Make it a daily or weekly habit, depending on how often you need to dump items at a drop shute or facility. You can also sprinkle in some baking soda, which can help keep odours at bay and soak up moisture. Spray vinegar or lemon juice into the bin to avoid unwelcome insects and additional smells.

Circulate the Air in Your Bin

Another way to help avoid odours from compost in your apartment is to circulate the air in the bin. Good compost requires oxygen, as anaerobic conditions (lack of oxygen) can slow composting and cause unpleasant smells. All it takes is a daily toss of the bin’s items to help turn it over, just like soil in a garden.

A persons hand drags red pepper peels over a cutting board and into a paper bag. — Pexels/Sarah Chai

Be Mindful of the Temperature

As you can imagine, extreme hot and cold temperatures can negatively impact the state and smell of your efforts. Compost piles naturally heat up as decomposition happens, but harsher outside temperatures can hinder that process. To avoid these issues, select an area in your kitchen where temperatures are stable, including a cupboard or shaded space where the bin can remain uninterrupted.

Ultimately, you’ll want to build a routine around composting to support all of the recommendations we’ve shared. From layering accordingly to turning over the compost regularly, consistency in your efforts will be the key to eliminating odours in smaller spaces.