As you know, we love all things earth-friendly, and composting is one of the best wayswe can give back to the earth. By diverting food waste from landfills, we can collectively reduce the harmful gases that are heating up our planet. Composting turns food back into nutrient-rich soil your plants, trees and flowers... looooove!

Unfortunately, compost tends to get a bad rep for its stinky smell and tendency to attract pests, especially here in Australia. However, there are excellent ways to make compost work for your household without sacrificing your backyard haven. 

Meet the Australian-made Urban Composter. We have used this one for over five years now because it is suitable for families with or without a garden AND because it gives you compost tea (a super potent fertiliser made from your food scraps. So cool!)

Let's get right into it and answer the questions you mostly ask.

1. Ok, first, does it smell?

Nope, pinky promise. It has an airtight lid, and you can hear it ''click" in place, making it airtight. No bad odours, no flies, no worries!

2. What can go in this composter?

All your food scraps and organic waste, including greens, meat & fish, citrus, coffee grounds, dairy, welted flowers, …  just no bones. 

3. How do I use this Urban Composter?

1. Cut up your food scraps into smaller pieces
2. Spray the accelerator on your scraps (read more below), and close the lid. 
3. Your food scraps are fermenting and releasing a juice, also called "compost tea." This juice contains good bacteria and nutrients and is an amazing, potent homemade fertiliser. Drain the compost tea from the bucket every few days through the little tap. Remember to dilute your homemade fertiliser so as not to burn your plants (yes, that is how strong it is). For every tablespoon of compost tea, add 1.5L of water.

4. Hang on, what is this accelerator spray, and do I need it?

The accelerator spray is a probiotic spray that ferments and breaks down your food scraps, turning them into nutrient-rich compost tea. It is important to use the Urban composter as we want our food scraps to ferment as well as create this potent (free) compost tea.

5. Do I need to cut my food scraps into smaller pieces?

I recommend cutting up scraps into smaller pieces to allow them to ferment faster. So you don't have to, but it helps.

6. What do you do when your bucket is full?

Ideally, you leave your food scraps in the composter for two weeks to ensure fermentation. This would mean you get 2 composters to keep in rotation. You don't need to do this (I don't), but it is best practice. 

If you have a garden: 

1. You can add the contents of your Urban Composter to your outdoor composter or worm farm, or simply bury it in your soil. The worms and microbes in the soil will take over, and within 4-6 weeks, your food scraps are turned into humus/compost. This is a great nutrient boost, and together with the compost tea, your plants, flowers and trees will flourish!

If you don't have a garden:

1. Option 1: Mix the contents of your Urban Composter in a large tub of soil and leave it for 6 weeks. The soil will be fully turned into compost, which you can use to supercharge your plants.
2. Option 2: Send it off with your council's organic waste pick-up.
3. Option 3: Have a look at the Sharewaste app. This app allows you to find neighbours who would love your food scraps to turn them into soil (or give to farm animals). It is likely these are the neighbours with the very green garden, hahaha. 
4. Option 4: As a last resort, you can pop it in your landfill bin because you will have already reduced the volume of your food waste by 300%! As it is broken down in the composter, it will have less negative impact on our planet, and you will have free potent fertiliser. Winning!!

7. What size is the right size for me?

In my experience, the 8L composter is perfect for two people, but when you have a bigger family, I'd advise the 15L composter.

8. I don't have a garden or live in an apartment. Can I use the urban composter?

Yes, I lived in an apartment when I first got my composter too. I had one bucket and disposed of it in our landfill bin. Remember, you have already reduced food waste volume by 300%. Do what you can with what you have. And you get the free fertiliser for Doing Good!

9. Does this composter smell? 

Hahaha, I just wanted to highlight this again. It does not smell—true story! 

The Urban Composter is a unique and innovative composter that reduces food waste that ends up in landfills and creates the nasty gases that heat our planet. We are true composting nerds, so shoot us any questions at askusanything@goforzero.com.au 

Happy composting, planet-lovers!

Ellie xxx