Composting in Urban Spaces

Composting—even recycling—can be hard to do in Oklahoma City if you live in an apartment complex or own a business. How can you reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill without help from your city? How do you live a more sustainable lifestyle in these conditions?

Don’t worry, you have options! If building a compost pile on your rental property isn’t an option, you can start vermicomposting. If worms gross you out, try bokashi. If that seems too intimidating, start collecting your food scraps and dropping them off at one of our locations in OKC, Edmond, or Norman. And if driving to a drop-off site is inconvenient, sign up for our weekly pickup service!

Urban composting comes in a variety of styles, each suited to different living situations, available space, and comfort levels. Here’s a breakdown of the most common types:

1. Vermicomposting (Worm Composting)

Best for: Apartments, small spaces, indoors or balconies
How it works: Uses red wiggler worms to break down food scraps into nutrient-rich worm castings. Typically done in a bin with bedding (shredded paper, coconut coir) and food scraps.

Pros:

• Can be done indoors with minimal space

• Produces high-quality compost quickly

• Low odor when maintained properly
  Cons:

• Worms require care (moisture, temperature control)

• Not suitable for all food scraps (no citrus, onions, or oily foods)

2. Bokashi Composting

Best for: Apartments, small kitchens, no outdoor space
How it works: A fermentation process using beneficial microbes (bokashi bran) to break down food scraps in an airtight container. The fermented waste is then buried or added to traditional compost to finish decomposing.

Pros:

• Works with almost all food scraps, including dairy and meat

• Quick process (2-4 weeks for fermentation)

• Minimal odor due to airtight container
  Cons:

• Requires purchasing bokashi bran regularly

• End product still needs to be buried or composted further

3. Community Drop-Off Composting

Best for: Those without space or interest in home composting
How it works: Individuals collect food scraps and drop them off at designated composting locations (e.g., farmers markets, composting facilities, or community gardens).

Pros:

• No need to manage compost at home

• Supports local composting efforts

• Allows composting of a wider range of materials
  
  Cons:

• Requires transportation to a drop-off site

5. Curbside Composting Services (Like Fertile Ground Cooperative’s Pickup Service!)

Best for: Homes, apartments, businesses wanting a hassle-free option
How it works: A composting service provides a bin for food scraps, which is picked up regularly and composted at an off-site facility.

Pros:

• Easy and convenient

• Often accepts more materials than DIY composting

• Reduces landfill waste without requiring personal effort
  
  Cons:

• Monthly service fee (I know this is listed as a con but this helps pay our a workers a fair wage)

Click on the buttons below to learn more about our pick-up service and community drop-off program.