I have been composting for over one year now. This seems to shock people when I tell them I compost because I live in New York City in an apartment without a backyard. My secret? The freezer! It is the perfect way to compost in an urban environment because it prevents smell, gives you protection from any insects or mold, and is extremely simple to do! I take mine to the Union Square Greenmarket, but there are plenty of drop-off locations throughout NYC as well as many other cities across the country! Composting is certainly doable and reduces up to 50% of landfill waste!
What is compost?
Compost is a nutrient-rich, dark, crumbly material that helps improve soil health and provides nutrients to plants. It is created by the natural decomposition of organic material (like food scraps) that turns the nutrients from once-living materials into humus, the rich, organic component of soil.
How do I compost?
I compost by using a leftover paper bag, which you can recycle at the drop-off location, or an upcycled soil bag (I still haven’t been able to find loose organic soil) and I keep it in my freezer until I am ready to drop it off at the market.
What is compostable?
Each city has certain things that you can and can not compost, but the NYC list can be found here.
11 comments
Wonderful post…I really like your blog.^^
Maybe follow each other on bloglovin?
Let me know follow you then back.
Lovely greets Nessa
Thank you! You blog is great too 🙂 I followed it!
L
Thank you sooo much for the follow,dear.
Follow you back on bloglovin.
Lovely greets from germany
I just discovered your blog… and it is really interesting to me.
I just moved into an apartment, and I'm looking for ways that I can still compost.
I have heard of "worm" composts… would this be something you recommend for a zero waste?
Interesting read! I am looking for ways to compost in my apartment, but unfortunately we don't have a freezer (yet)… Any other tips?
Please correct me if I am wrong… In the freezer you are not composting, but just storing the material to compost later. Right?
very nice, but i live in a city that doesnt have any place like that,
do you have tips for own compost?
Dear Lauren, thank you for this great idea! Currently I am living in an apt. building (in Switzerland) that has its own compost container, but this Friday I am moving house to an apt. which doesn't have this. I was already thinking about what to do with my lovely organic vegetable peels, ends, etc. so stumbling across this fantastic idea couldn't have come at a better time! Thank you so MUCH! And good luck with spreading your life style – which is the future! 🙂 Thea
Okay. Let's say I decide to go for it, but there are no Government incentives for recycling or composting in my city and I haven't yet been able to find a drop-off location. Do you have any suggestions? I don't have a backyard but my grandma does. Thanks for any help you can give.
I accidentally stumbled upon a YouTube video of you when I was researching tiny homes on YouTube and instantly became intrigued. I watched the video probably at least another 5-6 times. I have began saving my food in the freezer and thought it would be easy to find compost drop off as I live in a condo in south Florida. However. I have been googling for days and cannot find anything. I am trying to get crafty and possibly call any farmers near by. (Which there aren't many) to see if they want my scraps for their compost. Do you have any other ideas? Thank you bunches!
Wow, thant's graet! (In Budapest (Hungary) I've not found place to drop my wast for compost 🙁 )