Compost
Compost all organic stuff such as food waste and dirty paper
Most garden waste and food scraps can go into a home compost bin.
Larger amounts of vegetation and other organic material can be taken to the
Sliverstream landfill, to the green waste drop off area.
Composting
Composting offers a huge opportunity for waste reduction - 26% of the waste in landfills across the Wellington region is organic!
Composting means instead of food waste decomposing and releasing methane (a potent greenhouse gas), we instead can turn food scraps into valuable resources like nutrient-rich compost that can improve soil health and enhance garden productivity.
Throughout the month, we'll be offering content about the importance of composting, how it works, and ways to get involved.
Expect a variety of workshops and activities that will guide you through the process and help you take action.
Over half of New Zealanders already manage their food scraps at home through methods like worm farming, composting, or using a bokashi bin.
You could be one of them - join us this month in making a positive impact on the environment by learning how to compost and getting your food waste out of the landfill and into the soil!
So, we know composting is a great way to reduce waste and gain garden gold, but it can be overwhelming knowing where to start and which method is best for you. See below for key info on three great options:
Bokashi
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Process: Bokashi is a Japanese method of fermentation rather than traditional composting. It uses a special mix of micro-organisms (often a blend of yeast, bacteria, and fungi) to ferment food waste in a sealed container. The process is anaerobic (doesn’t require air).
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Materials: You can compost almost any organic material in a bokashi system, including meat, dairy, and cooked food, which are typically not recommended in traditional compost bins.
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Timeframe: The fermentation process takes about 2 weeks, and after that, the material can be buried in the soil, where it breaks down further.
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Advantages: Bokashi is relatively quick and can handle a broader variety of waste, including food scraps that would normally be unsuitable for other composting methods. It doesn’t require a lot of space or turning. It also produces a liquid that can be used as an environmentally-friendly drain cleaner.
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Disadvantages: You need somewhere to put the bokashi product – e.g. bury in the ground, add to a compost system, or turn it into a container garden. It requires the purchase of Bokashi bran to sprinkle onto your bokashi bin. This option is not suitable for garden waste.
Watch Video from Wellington City Council
Compost Bins
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Process: Traditional composting involves aerobic decomposition, where micro-organisms (like bacteria and fungi) break down organic matter in the presence of oxygen. A compost bin is a contained space to collect and manage this process.
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Materials: Typically, compost bins are used for plant-based waste such as vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, leaves, grass clippings, and yard trimmings. Meats, dairy, and oils are usually avoided because they can attract pests and slow down the process.
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Timeframe: Composting takes several months (usually 3-6 months), depending on the conditions (e.g., temperature, moisture, and turning).
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Advantages: This is great option if you also have garden waste, or “browns” such as dried grass clippings, cardboard and paper. It can take larger volumes than the other options, and some things that aren’t suitable for worm farms such as citrus. You can add the finished compost directly to your garden
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Disadvantages: It requires regular turning and maintaining a balance of green and brown materials (nitrogen and carbon), and it can attract pests if not managed properly.
Worm Farming
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Process: Worm farming uses worms (typically red wigglers) to break down organic material into nutrient-rich compost. The worms feed on the organic waste, digest it, and produce castings, which are an excellent soil amendment.
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Materials: Worms thrive on food scraps like fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and small amounts of paper or cardboard. Unlike other methods, worms require a specific environment, usually kept in a worm bin.
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Timeframe: Worms can process waste fairly quickly, and over time, the worms' castings accumulate. Typically, it can take a few months for significant amounts of compost to accumulate.
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Advantages: It’s a very efficient process, producing high-quality compost (worm castings) and liquid fertilizer (worm tea). Worm farming is also odour-free if managed correctly and can be done indoors, making it ideal for small spaces.
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Disadvantages: Some Worms require proper care, including moisture control, temperature regulation, and avoiding overfeeding. Some types of waste, like citrus, onions, or spicy foods, should be avoided as they can harm the worms. Some extra care is needed to look after your worms, such as ensuring they have the right amount of moisture.
Watch video from Wellington City Council
Get started with
Composting 101: Everything you need to know on the
Love Food hate waste website.
Wormeries
A Hutt Community Survey found that 39.2% of respondents said they compost their food waste at home in a composter and 9.4% compost their food waste in a wormery. In addition, 42.9% of respondents compost their green waste at home as well. Council is also doing its part to divert food waste from landfill.
You can easily make a thriving worm farm, year-round, indoors or out. It doesn’t take much space to build a worm farm that composts your kitchen waste, and it makes great fertiliser!
Worm composting is the process of using earthworms to break down food and garden waste. This is faster and more nutrient productive than normal composting. The earthworms produce castings which is sometimes called vermicompost.
Vermicompost contains five times more nitrogen, seven times more phosphorus and eleven times more potassium than ordinary garden soils. These key nutrients are essential for plant growth and cost lots of money to buy as garden fertiliser!
Get started with
Worm Farms 101: Everything you need to know on the
Love Food hate waste website.
FAQS
What is composting?
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Composting is the natural process of breaking down organic materials, such as food scraps, yard waste, and other biodegradable matter, into nutrient-rich soil known as compost. This process occurs when micro-organisms, like bacteria and fungi, decompose the organic materials over time in a controlled environment.
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The result is a dark, crumbly, and earthy-smelling substance that can be used to enrich garden soil, improve plant growth, and reduce the need for chemical fertilisers. Composting helps divert waste from landfills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promotes a more sustainable way to manage food scraps and yard waste.
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In short, composting turns what would otherwise be waste into a valuable resource for plants, soil, and the environment!
Why is composting important?
Around a quarter of all matter in landfills across the Wellington region is organic. By composting, we reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfills, which helps reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions like methane. It also creates valuable, nutrient-rich compost that can be used to improve soil health and boost garden productivity.
What is the goal of the Sustainability Strategy and how does composting fit in?
The Sustainability Strategy’s Goal 6 is focused on reducing waste. By promoting composting and other waste minimization activities, we are working towards the goal of reducing the waste sent to landfills by 30% by 2030, as outlined in the Wellington Region Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP).
How does food waste impact the environment?
Food waste is a significant environmental issue, contributing to 8% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. When food waste is sent to landfills, it decomposes and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Composting helps mitigate this issue by turning food scraps into valuable compost rather than allowing them to harm the environment.
How can I get involved in Compost Month?
Throughout the month, there will be various workshops and activities to help you learn about composting, how it works, and how to get started. You can also share what you learn with others and encourage them to join the movement!.
Is composting easy to do at home?
Yes! Many people find composting at home simple and rewarding. In fact, over half of New Zealanders already manage their food scraps through composting, worm farming, or using a bokashi bin. The compost produced can be used to nourish gardens, creating a sustainable cycle.
What types of food waste can I compost?
It depends which composting system you choose – for instance, a bokashi bin can handle more varieties of food like meat and cheese that are less appetizing for worms; whereas compost bins like to have more “browns” like cardboard and garden waste. See here for more about what you can put into which system:
Compost bins
Worm farms
Bokashi bins
How can I support the sustainability movement beyond composting
You can get involved in some of the awesome community initiatives around Upper Hutt like our community gardens, restoration or pest-trapping with Forest and Bird, or volunteer with the Repair Café. On an individual level, you can say no to short car trips and bike or walk where you can (this is also great for your mental wellbeing!) buy second hand rather than new (we have great op shops in Upper Hutt!) eat more plant-based food, and be mindful of energy efficiency – whether that means wearing a cosy jersey, investing in insulation, or anything in between!
What if I don’t have outdoor space?
You still have options to get involved in the composting Kaupapa if you don’t have space for your own bin- for example:
- A Bokashi Bin (you would still need to have somewhere for the (non-smelly) end product to go, such as a friend or family members’ compost, bury in the ground, or take to a community garden)
- Use a bucket from a local supplier such as Mahinga Kai
How do I stop rats getting into my compost?
See the great resources on this, again from our friends the Compost Collective here.