What can I put in it?
All types of food scraps can be added. These include greens, meat, fish, citrus, dairy, coffee grounds, wilted flowers, egg shells and more. We recommend cutting up scraps into smaller pieces to allow for quicker fermentation. Make sure proteins such as meat and fish are thoroughly sprayed with accelerator. (no bones or excessive liquids).
How do I use it?
Cut up your food scraps and throw them into the Urban Composter Bucket. Spray Compost Accelerator onto the scraps every time they are added. Drain the juice off every few days. This can be diluted (1:100) with water and used as a fertiliser in the garden. Alternatively it can be poured down the sink and acts as an organic drain cleaner.
I live in an Apartment, can I still use an Urban Composter?
Even if you do not have a garden you can use our Urban Composter to reduce your food waste and so benefit your home and the environment. If you have a balcony mix the contents of the Urban Composter in a large tub of soil. This will turn into compost which will nourish other pot-plants. If this is not possible, many councils have regular organic waste pick-up. As a last resort even if you put the contents in the garbage you have reduced the volume of your food waste by about 300%. As the food scraps have broken down in the Urban Composter there will be less negative impact of harmful gases going into the atmoshere. Plus you will have produced your own organic fertilizer which your plants will love
When it’s full what do I do?
Ensure that your Urban Composter – kitchen compost bin, is left for at least a week (preferably 2) after it is full to ensure its all fermented. Once fermented ensure all juice is drained off. Then bury under soil, or place on compost heap. Will break down in 4-8 weeks and can be planted into or used elsewhere in the garden.
My lid is hard to open & close?
As the Urban Composters are individually manufactured there may be slight differences and a few people find some lids hard to open.
For the Urban Composter, if you find that the clip on the lid of the Urban Composter is tight you can soften this by applying heat from a hairdryer for a minute or so. The clip will also loosen with use. Always apply pressure on the lip of the lid at the front of the Urban Composter – this will open and close the clip. The lid is designed to be a snug fit.
For the City Composter, if you find the lid is hard to open try putting some vegetable oil around the top of the bucket where it contacts with the lid. With use the lid will soften and become easier to open.
My tap leaks a bit what do I do?
We have found that with a few of the Urban Composters, the tap may have a slight leak. To remedy this we suggest that you put some plumbing tape around the thread of the tap. If you are unable to do this let us know and we will send a replacement tap. Please remember that it is important to drain off the liquid everyday. A build-up of liquid should not be allowed to accumulate in the bottom of the Urban Composter.
There are magots and flies?
If the Urban Composter lid has been left open it is possible for flies to come in and lay eggs. Very quickly these will turn into maggots. It is more common for this to occur during summer months. In this instance empty the Urban Composter and bury the contents. Rinse out well. Use the Urban Composter cleaner or any organic cleaner or even water and vinegar, paying particular attention to cleaning around the lid seal.
Can I empty the contents of my Urban Composter Bucket into a worm farm?
Yes, the Urban Composter and City composters work really well in conjunction with a worm farm. By using the Urban Composter the volume of food waste will be reduced significantly. This makes it easier for the worms to digest the quantity of food waste produced by a normal family
Watch our Urban Composter™ Video Tutorials
Learn more about the Urban Composter™ by watching our easy to follow videos.