Can you have compost without rank smells and rodents?

Yes, you can! But, with summer just around the corner, warmer weather brings more than just sunshine—it can also mean more pests and ripe smells around food scraps. But don’t worry, whether you’re sorting food scraps for kerbside collection or composting at home, you can prevent these problems. Here are our best tips for making the most of your compostables…

Keep kitchen scraps cool and dry - and outdoor compost warm and moist

Take out your kitchen food scraps regularly so that your indoor container stays relatively dry and odourless. Your kitchen caddy should be in a cool, dry location (not a sunny windowsill!).  On the other hand, once your scraps have left the house and hit the compost pile, you want to promote decomposition so moisture and warmth is necessary.

Add a sprinkle of baking soda

We all know that baking soda is a great natural deodoriser…but did you know you can use it to clean out your bins - or even add it to your food scraps pile to absorb and neutralise smells!  Simply sprinkle on and mix in (but don’t add too much baking soda to your compost as you don’t want to disrupt the balance of microbes and harm beneficial bacteria).

Use compostable liners

If you’re using a kitchen caddy or any food scraps container, lining it with compostable bin liners—like Ecopack compostable liners—helps make the process a lot cleaner and more convenient. Ecopack bags are made with GMO-free cornstarch and will break down safely in compost along with your food scraps. Don’t forget to tie the top.

Turn soaked banana skins into liquid fertiliser

Banana peels contain essential nutrients for plant growth, like magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium. Roughly chop your banana skins and place them in a large jar or container. Covered with hot water, seal them up, and leave for a few days. Use the liquid to feed your plants then toss the banana peels in your compost. Because the peels have already been soaked any fruit flies and their eggs (which love banana skins) should be long gone.

Chill your scraps until they’re ready to go out

If you’re not ready to take out the scraps straight away, pop them in the fridge or freezer. An ice cream container with a lid or a compostable resealable storage bag is a perfect size for this. Freezing scraps helps keep odours in check until you’re ready to dispose of them.

Empty regularly - and wash and dry thoroughly

If your kitchen is getting a bit smelly, empty your kitchen caddy more often into your municipal food scraps collection bin (and make sure the lid is secured tightly to keep pests out) or compost pile. Clean your caddy and bin regularly with a bit of dishwashing liquid or antibacterial spray to keep things fresh. And make sure to dry them thoroughly before putting a new compostable bin bag in.

Add a drop of tea tree oil

If you’re getting fruit flies or ants try adding a drop of tea tree oil to your cleanser – or rub it on the bin once clean. Tea tree will mask the pheromone trail of insects and act as a natural antiseptic and insect repellent.

Avoid adding meat and dairy to backyard compost

If you’re getting rats in your compost bin it could be because you’re unintentionally providing a nice warm sheltered feeding station! Stick to fruit and veggie scraps; avoid adding bread, cooked foods, dairy products, fish, meat, fats or processed foods. While these things may be picked up in your Council collection and processed at an industrial composting facility, they may cause you pest problems if you try to compost them in your own backyard compost pile, which will not achieve the high temperatures and consistency as a professionally managed compost.