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A report from Amateur Gardening describes several ways people without gardens can compost food scraps, including a small balcony bin, a wormery or a countertop Bokashi system. The options have different space and setup needs; the report says worm compost may appear after eight to 12 weeks.
Amateur Gardening has outlined ways to compost food scraps without a garden, including a small balcony bin, a wormery and a countertop Bokashi system. The guidance, written by Chris Collins, offers options for residents with limited outdoor space and explains that some methods can produce material for pots and planters.
Collins says he has composted while living in a central London flat, using a 20-litre balcony bin with roughly equal parts brown material, such as shredded paper, and green material, such as kitchen waste. The report presents this as one small-scale approach rather than a rule for every composting system.
A wormery uses worms to process organic waste. The article describes a homemade version using three stacking trays: holes drilled in two trays provide aeration and drainage, while the bottom tray has no holes. The upper tray holds damp soil, compost or shredded paper, along with kitchen scraps and worms. The report says suitable worms, including brandling, red or tiger worms, can be bought from fishing shops.
For homes where an outdoor wormery is not practical, Collins describes Bokashi composting as a countertop option. It uses a sealed container and an inoculant such as bran to introduce microbes. The resulting material is described as pre-compost that can be placed at the bottom of a plant container to break down further. The article also suggests seeking permission to use a shared ground-level area, such as a community space or car park, for a compost bin.
Options for Small Homes
People without gardens may still be able to divert kitchen scraps from ordinary rubbish and make material for container-grown plants. The report’s alternatives vary in where they can be kept: a balcony bin needs outdoor space, a wormery needs a suitable place and routine care, while Bokashi is designed for a closed indoor container.
Shared composting can also spread the work across a building or neighbourhood. The article suggests residents could organise a community scheme, but it does not establish that a particular scheme exists or that every site will be suitable. Local rules, landlord permission and access to an appropriate place may affect what residents can do.
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Three Routes Without a Yard
The guidance focuses on small-scale household composting, not on a single method that fits every home. Collins describes his own balcony setup, then offers a wormery and Bokashi as alternatives for people with different space constraints. The source does not provide a publication date in the supplied material.
For wormery inputs, the report recommends chopping scraps into smaller pieces and lists vegetable peelings, crushed eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags and torn egg boxes. It advises maintaining an approximately 50:50 mix of green and brown materials for the small-bin approach it describes. Leaves are suggested as a separate material: the report says wet leaves can be stored in loosely tied black sacks for a year or two, and people should get the landowner’s permission before collecting them.
““Don’t let a lack of space put you off recycling your food scraps.””
— Chris Collins, writing for Amateur Gardening
Setup Depends on the Home
The report does not specify whether its suggested methods meet local waste rules, or whether a particular building, landlord or shared site permits them. Residents should check permission and local guidance before installing a bin or collecting leaves from land they do not own.
It also gives no detailed instructions on managing odours, pests, temperature or the maintenance needs of each system. The stated eight-to-12-week period for worm compost is an estimate from the article, not a guaranteed schedule for every wormery. The source does not quantify how much waste these small systems can handle.
Choosing a Practical Setup
The next step for a resident is to match the method to available space and permissions: a small bin for a balcony, a wormery where it can be maintained, or a sealed Bokashi container indoors. Anyone considering a shared system can speak with neighbours, a building manager or the site’s owner about whether a suitable location is available.
For a wormery, the article says crumbly compost may appear after eight to 12 weeks, with liquid collecting in the bottom tray. It says that liquid can be used as plant fertiliser when diluted. The report points readers to Garden Organic for additional Bokashi information and broader composting advice; specific local requirements and the performance of an individual setup remain matters for residents to verify.
Key Questions
Can I compost if I only have a balcony?
Yes. The report’s author describes using a 20-litre balcony bin with roughly equal amounts of shredded paper and kitchen waste. Check that the location is allowed and suitable for a bin.
What can go in a wormery?
The article lists vegetable peelings, crushed eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags and torn egg boxes. It recommends chopping ingredients into small pieces and balancing green scraps with brown materials.
How long does a wormery take to produce compost?
Amateur Gardening says crumbly worm compost may collect in the middle tray after eight to 12 weeks. Timing can vary, and the source does not promise that schedule for every system.
What is Bokashi composting?
The report describes Bokashi as a sealed, oxygen-free process using a small bin and an inoculant such as bran. It produces pre-compost that can continue breaking down in a plant container.
Can I collect leaves for compost?
The article suggests storing wet leaves separately in loosely tied sacks, but says to ask the landowner’s permission before collecting them.
Source: amateurgardening.com
