You can compost in an apartment using a sealed container on your countertop, balcony, or under the sink

Apartment composting works because you do not need a yard or outdoor space. The most practical method for renters is vermicomposting — using a sealed bin with red worms to break down food scraps — or a bokashi bucket, which ferments scraps in an airtight container before you take them to a community garden or trash day. Both fit in a closet, take up less space than a small microwave, and produce no smell when sealed properly.

The choice depends on what you have room for and what you plan to do with the finished compost. If you have a balcony or patio, a small outdoor bin works too. If you have no outdoor space at all, vermicomposting or bokashi are your realistic options. Neither requires you to ask your landlord's permission in most cases, since they are sealed containers that stay inside your unit.

Key Takeaways

  • Vermicomposting uses red worms in a sealed bin and turns food scraps into usable compost in three to six months without odor.
  • Bokashi buckets ferment scraps in an airtight container and work with meat, dairy, and oils — foods that regular composting cannot handle.
  • Both methods cost between $30 and $150 to start and fit under a sink, in a closet, or on a balcony.
  • You will need somewhere to put finished compost or fermented scraps — a community garden, potted plants, or a friend's yard.

Vermicomposting: The Most Common Apartment Method

Vermicomposting uses red wiggler worms (not earthworms from outside) to eat food scraps and turn them into dark, crumbly compost. The worms live in a sealed plastic bin with bedding — usually shredded newspaper or cardboard — and you feed them once or twice a week. The bin sits on a shelf, under a sink, in a closet, or on a balcony. When sealed, it produces no smell because the worms and microbes break down the scraps before gas builds up.

A basic vermicomposting bin costs $40 to $100 new, or you can build one yourself from two plastic storage containers stacked on top of each other. You drill holes in the bottom of the top container so liquid drains into the bottom one, add bedding and worms to the top, and start feeding. Red wigglers cost $25 to $40 for a pound (about 1,000 worms), which is enough for a household of one to three people.

Feed your worms once or twice a week by burying food scraps under the bedding. They eat vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, crushed eggshells, and paper. Do not add meat, dairy, oils, or pet waste. The worms will finish a week's worth of scraps in about five to seven days. In three to six months, the bottom of the bin will be dark compost you can harvest and use in potted plants or give to a community garden.

Bokashi Buckets: For Meat, Dairy, and Oils

A bokashi bucket is a sealed 5-gallon container with a tap at the bottom. You add food scraps — including meat, fish, dairy, and oils — and sprinkle them with bokashi bran, a grain inoculated with microbes. The bucket ferments the scraps in an anaerobic (airless) environment. After two weeks, the contents have broken down into a paste that smells like pickles or soy sauce, not garbage. You then empty it into a trash bin, bury it in a community garden, or add it to a larger compost pile.

Bokashi buckets cost $30 to $60 for the bucket and $10 to $15 per bag of bran. One bucket ferments about one week of kitchen scraps for a household of two to three people. You need two buckets to rotate — while one ferments, you fill the other — so plan for $60 to $120 to start. The tap at the bottom drains liquid (called bokashi tea) that you can dilute and use on houseplants or pour down the drain.

Bokashi works best if you have somewhere to put the fermented scraps after two weeks. If you have a community garden plot, you can bury the paste there and it will finish breaking down in the soil in two to four weeks. If you do not, you can add it to a larger compost pile, wrap it and put it in the trash, or ask a friend with a yard if you can bury it there.

Setting Up a Vermicomposting Bin Step by Step

Start with a plastic storage container at least 12 inches deep and 18 inches wide. Drill or poke about 20 holes in the bottom and sides for air and drainage. Place it on a tray or in a larger container to catch liquid. Shred newspaper, cardboard, or paper bags into strips about one inch wide and dampen them until they feel like a wrung-out sponge. Fill the bin halfway with damp bedding.

Add one pound of red wigglers (about 1,000 worms) to the bedding and let them settle for a few days before you feed them. Bury a small amount of food scraps — about a handful — under the bedding in one corner. Wait five to seven days, then add more scraps in a different corner. Rotate corners so you are not feeding the same spot twice in a row. This prevents the bin from getting too wet or too acidic in one area.

Keep the bin in a dark place between 55 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. A closet, under a sink, or a basement corner works. Avoid direct sunlight and temperatures below 50 or above 85 degrees. If the bin smells like ammonia, it is too wet — add dry shredded paper. If it smells sour, you are feeding too much — wait longer between feedings. A healthy bin smells like soil and has no odor when closed.

Setting Up a Bokashi Bucket Step by Step

Buy a bokashi bucket kit (usually two buckets, a tap, and bran) or assemble one from a 5-gallon food-grade bucket with a tap installed. Place the bucket on a shelf or under the sink. Add a thin layer of bokashi bran to the bottom — about one-quarter inch. Add food scraps (chopped into pieces smaller than two inches) and sprinkle another layer of bran on top. Press down gently with a plate or your hand to remove air.

Repeat this process every time you add scraps — layer of scraps, layer of bran, press down. Drain the tap every two to three days to remove bokashi tea. After about two weeks, the bucket will be full and the contents will have fermented into a dark paste. Close the lid and let it sit for another three to five days if you want it more broken down, then empty it.

If you have two buckets, start filling the second one while the first ferments. If you have only one, you will need to empty it somewhere before you can start a new batch. Bury the fermented scraps in a community garden, mix them into a larger compost pile, or wrap them and put them in the trash. The paste will continue to break down in soil over two to four weeks.

Where to Put Your Finished Compost or Fermented Scraps

If you are vermicomposting, you harvest finished compost every three to six months. Use it in potted plants, window boxes, or container gardens on your balcony. If you have more than you can use, offer it to neighbors, a community garden, or a local plant swap group. Some community gardens accept finished compost from residents even if you do not have a plot.

If you are using bokashi, the fermented scraps need to go somewhere after two weeks. The best option is a community garden where you can bury them in a plot or in a designated compost area. If you do not have access to a garden, ask friends or family if you can bury the scraps in their yard. As a last resort, you can wrap the fermented paste in newspaper and put it in your regular trash — it will not smell because it is already fermented.

Some apartment buildings have community compost programs or partnerships with local gardens. Ask your building management or check your city's website to see if there is a drop-off location for finished compost or food scraps. A few cities run programs where residents can bring sealed containers of scraps to a central location.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The most common mistake with vermicomposting is overfeeding. Worms eat slowly — a pound of worms processes about one-quarter pound of food per week. If you add more than they can eat, the scraps rot and smell. Start with small amounts and wait five to seven days between feedings. If the bin smells bad, stop feeding for two weeks and let the worms catch up.

The second mistake is using the wrong worms. Red wigglers are the only worms that work for vermicomposting in a bin. Earthworms from outside will try to escape and will not thrive in a container. Buy red wigglers from a garden center, online supplier, or a local bait shop.

With bokashi, the most common mistake is not pressing down hard enough after each layer. Air pockets prevent fermentation and cause mold or bad smells. Press firmly with a plate or your hand after each addition of scraps and bran. If you see white mold, that is normal — it is part of fermentation. If you see green or black mold, the bucket has too much air and you should press down more firmly and keep the lid sealed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my apartment smell like compost?

No, if the bin is sealed and maintained correctly. Vermicomposting bins smell like soil when closed. Bokashi buckets smell like pickles or soy sauce. Both produce odor only if you open them or if you overfeed a vermicomposting bin. Keep lids closed between uses and drain bokashi tea regularly.

Can I compost on a balcony or patio?

Yes. A vermicomposting bin or bokashi bucket works on a balcony as long as it is not in direct sun and stays between 55 and 77 degrees. In winter, bring a vermicomposting bin inside if your balcony freezes. Bokashi buckets are more temperature-tolerant and can stay outside year-round in most climates.

What if I do not have anywhere to put the finished compost?

For vermicomposting, use the compost in potted plants or offer it to neighbors and friends. For bokashi, bury the fermented scraps in a community garden, ask a friend if you can use their yard, or wrap it and put it in the trash. Some cities have compost drop-off programs — check your local waste management website.

Do I need my landlord's permission?

Most sealed bins do not require permission because they are contained and produce no smell or mess. Check your lease for restrictions on composting. If your lease is silent, a sealed bin inside your unit is usually not a problem. If you want to be safe, ask your landlord — many will say yes once they understand it is a sealed container.

How much does it cost to start?

Vermicomposting costs $65 to $140 for a bin and worms. Bokashi costs $60 to $120 for two buckets and bran. Both are one-time purchases except for bokashi bran, which costs $10 to $15 per bag and lasts about two months for a household of two to three people.