Bokashi, worms and bins: choosing a composting method

Composting isn't one-size-fits-all. The best method depends on your space, your lifestyle, and what waste you produce. Whether you live in a Sea Point flat or a Durbanville house with a big garden, there's a composting method for you. Here's a comparison of the main options.

Method 1: The traditional compost bin or heap

Best for: homes with a garden and outdoor space.

A compost bin or open heap is the classic method: you layer greens (food and fresh garden waste) and browns (dry leaves, cardboard) and let nature do the work, turning occasionally for air.

Pros:

• Handles both food scraps and garden waste
• Large capacity
• Low cost — you can build one cheaply
• Produces classic, crumbly compost

Cons:

• Needs outdoor space
• Requires some effort (turning, balancing)
• Can attract pests if managed poorly
• Slower than some methods

Method 2: Bokashi

Best for: flats, small spaces, and those who want to compost cooked food.

Bokashi is a fermentation system: you add food scraps to a sealed bucket with a special bran inoculated with microbes. It ferments (rather than rots) the waste, which is then buried or added to a compost pile to break down fully.

Pros:

• Compact — fits on a counter or in a cupboard
• Handles cooked food, and small amounts of meat and dairy
• Sealed and low-odour when done right
• Fast fermentation
• Produces a nutrient-rich liquid ("bokashi tea") for plants

Cons:

• Needs the special bran (ongoing small cost)
• The fermented output still needs to be buried or composted to finish
• Doesn't handle garden waste

Method 3: Worm farms (vermicomposting)

Best for: balconies, small gardens, and kitchen-scrap composters.

Worm farming uses special composting worms to eat kitchen scraps and turn them into rich "castings" (worm compost) and a liquid fertiliser.

Pros:

• Compact — works on a balcony or in a shady corner
• Produces excellent, high-quality compost and liquid feed
• Fast and efficient for food scraps
• Low odour when balanced

Cons:

• Worms need care — right temperature, moisture and feeding
• Sensitive to overfeeding, extreme heat and certain foods
• Limited capacity
• Doesn't handle large volumes of garden waste

Quick comparison

Method	Space needed	Handles cooked food	Handles garden waste	Effort
Compost bin/heap	Garden	No	Yes	Medium
Bokashi	Tiny	Yes	No	Low
Worm farm	Small	Limited	No	Medium

Choosing what's right for you

• House with a garden? A compost bin or heap handles everything, especially garden waste.
• Flat or tiny space? Bokashi is your friend — compact and handles cooked food.
• Balcony and mostly kitchen scraps? A worm farm produces top-quality compost.
• Lots of both food and garden waste? Combine methods — bokashi or a worm farm for food scraps, a heap for garden waste.

You can mix and match

Many keen composters use more than one method. For example, bokashi pre-ferments kitchen scraps which then finish in an outdoor heap, while garden waste goes straight onto the pile. There's no rule against combining — use whatever diverts the most waste from your bin.

Just start

The "best" composting method is the one you'll actually use. Pick whichever fits your space and life, start small, and learn as you go. Every method keeps organic waste out of landfill, cuts methane, and gives you free, rich soil.

Composting handles your organics; recycling handles your packaging. Do both and you'll divert the vast majority of your waste. To recycle and be rewarded for the rest, explore WasteGo Green.