Why does nobody talk about how hard it is to compost in an apartment?

I started composting to help my urban garden and cut down on trash. My setup is just a bucket under the sink. After a few days, it reeks and attracts bugs, lmao. I've tried adding browns like shredded paper, but it still stinks. What do you all do to keep indoor composting from becoming a nightmare?

3 comments

3 Comments

kareng201mo ago

My sealed compost bin with a charcoal filter was a game changer! I got it for around $30 and it traps smells really well. Freezing kitchen scraps overnight before tossing them in stopped the fruit flies for me. Now I just mix in shredded cardboard once a week and it works great!

the_nora1mo ago

Honestly, I heard my neighbor say she sprinkles coffee grounds on top of her compost and told me it helps with smell too. Your charcoal filter idea sounds way better though.

the_beth1mo ago

Adjust your browns. In my Seattle apartment, I use a five-gallon bucket with a tight lid. I found that adding twice as much shredded cardboard as food scraps keeps things dry and odor-free. Breaking down citrus peels and onion skins before tossing them in made a huge difference. It's not perfect, but a weekly stir and extra browns saved my kitchen from becoming a bug zone.