Shared, community or apartment-block composting: a practical guide

Print

A compost bin at the foot of a block of flats, a few wooden bins in the corner of a square, neighbours bumping into each other on a Saturday morning with their kitchen caddies: shared composting has taken root in many towns and cities. It is a valuable solution for people without a garden, and often a lovely way to bring neighbours together.

How does a shared compost bin work, how can you set one up in your building, and what rules should you follow to keep it clean and effective? Here is our practical guide.

Three forms of local composting

There are three forms of local composting: home composting, on your own; shared composting, between several households; and on-site composting in institutions, where a school, canteen or care home processes its own food scraps.

Shared composting itself comes in two forms:

• the building compost bin, set up in the courtyard or green spaces of a residential building and reserved for its residents;
• the community compost bin, usually run by a local group in a community garden or public space, and open to all local residents during set opening times.

If there is a community compost bin near you, you often just need to sign up with the group that runs it. Some sites are full and keep a waiting list: that is the moment to consider a compost bin in your own building.

Setting up a compost bin in your building: the steps

The process varies from one town to another, but the same steps come up almost every time:

1. Gather some keen neighbours. Ideally, bring together 10 to 15 families; some local authorities require at least 7 participating households.
2. Contact your local council. It is responsible for food and garden waste, and many councils support projects like this: equipment, training, follow-up. Some only accept applications during campaigns with fixed dates.
3. Get permission from the building's management. In a jointly owned building, you will need the agreement of the managing agent or residents' management company; in social housing, that of the landlord and, where there is one, the tenants' association.
4. Choose the location. The bins sit directly on the soil, a little away from windows. As an example, a minimum of 5 m² of outdoor space is sometimes required.
5. Appoint site volunteers and plan from the start where the compost will be used.

Did you know?

Many households still have no suitable way to compost their food waste. Every new shared compost bin means dozens of households can benefit.

The site volunteer and the master composter

A shared compost bin depends on people, not just on bins. The site volunteer is a resident who gives their time. They advise their neighbours, keep an eye on how the compost is doing and organise the harvest. It is best to have at least two, so they can cover for each other during the holidays. Site volunteers can attend a one-day training course.

The master composter is a trained professional, appointed by the council or a local organisation. They help choose the location, launch the site and establish good habits. Ideally, this support lasts at least a year after launch; sometimes it is limited to eight months, followed by an annual visit.

The equipment: input, maturing and dry material

A shared site works with several bins, each with a clearly defined role:

• the input bin, which receives peelings day by day;
• the maturing bin, where the compost rests once the first bin is full;
• the dry-material bin (wood chips, dead leaves, shavings), essential for covering each addition.

Plan for at least two bins, one of them for dry material. Some sites install three, for example two of 600 L and one of 400 L, and give each household a 7 L kitchen caddy. As for tools, an aerator such as the Brass'Compost lets you mix in new additions without turning the whole bin, and a compost collection trolley makes the group harvest easier. On the diagram: the input bin (1), the maturing bin (2) and the dry-material bin (3).

The rules for what goes in: stricter than at home

In a shared compost bin, dozens of people drop off their scraps, often without knowing one another. To avoid smells and rodents, each site adopts a charter, displayed on the bins. It is often more cautious than at home: some sites, for example, keep meat, fish, bones, dairy, sauces, bread and large quantities of citrus out of the bin. We explain why these items are debated in our guide on citrus, meat, bread and pet litter.

Good habits, wherever you are:

• tip your peelings in loose, without a bag, even a "compostable" one;
• cover each addition with dry material, roughly one bucket of dry material for one bucket of peelings;
• mix lightly on the surface if the site asks you to;
• stick to the opening times of a community compost bin;
• if in doubt, ask the site volunteer rather than dropping it in.

If flies or rodents appear despite everything, our guide on compost bin pests will help you find the cause.

Willy's tip

Combine your trip to the compost bin with a journey you already make, such as popping out for bread or heading off to work: dropping off your scraps becomes a habit, and your kitchen caddy never overflows.

Keeping the site going

A shared compost bin that works well is a lively one. A few get-togethers are enough: a group turning session now and then, a shared harvest in spring, an up-to-date poster. It is also a chance to explain the rules to newcomers.

Spring is the ideal time to get people involved. Many areas hold open days and composting events at this time of year, and some countries run national awareness campaigns: find out from your council or your local waste service what is happening near you. It is a good opportunity to invite your neighbours to discover the site.

What to do with the finished compost?

First of all, check that it is mature: dark, crumbly, with a pleasant woodland smell. Our simple tests are explained in the guide How to tell if your compost is ready.

The compost is then shared among the participants, for their houseplants, balcony planters or the building's green spaces. That is why you need to plan these outlets from the start: some councils will not support a site that does not have enough of them. Local rules sometimes also specify that this compost must not be sold or given away, as it has not been tested. Check the rules with your local council.

Key points

A successful shared compost bin comes down to three things: trained site volunteers, a clear charter, and dry material always to hand.

In summary

Whether at the foot of a block of flats or in the neighbourhood, shared composting lets people without a garden put their peelings to good use close to home. To set one up, gather a few neighbours, contact your local council, get the agreement of your building's management and appoint at least two site volunteers. After that, it all comes down to simple, clearly displayed rules for what goes in, a stock of dry material, and a little community spirit. If there is no shared solution near you, our guide Composting in a flat presents the other options, such as the wormery.

Related products

Maze 180L Double Chamber Rotating Composter

Effortless outdoor composting

£124.43 €149.17

Best Seller

Bokashi Confort Composter

14-litre capacity, available individually or as a set of 2

£34.06 €40.83

Pre-order

245L Maze Rotating Composter with Double Chambers

Effortless outdoor composting

£173.09 €207.50

Compostys wooden composter | 305 litres

PEFC-certified spruce wood

£96.62 €115.83

Other topics in the guide

Vermicomposting30 sheets →Bokashi24 sheets →EM micro-organisms26 sheets →