Household Composting FAQs
Bristol Living Compost Project
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rated 5.0 by Bristol members
Got questions about buckets, collections, or how it all works? You’re in the right place.
What is the Bristol Living Compost Project?
A household membership run by Generation Soil.
It keeps food scraps in Bristol, composts it biologically, and returns it to local soil as living compost.
Who can join?
Anyone living in Bristol within our collection area.
For schools, organisations, and businesses, we offer a separate service.
What food SCRAPS can I put in the bucket?
You can add:
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fruit and vegetables
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cooked food and leftovers
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bread, rice, pasta, grains
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tea bags and coffee grounds
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dairy and small bones
Avoid:
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plastic or packaging
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liquids or large amounts of oil
Bokashi fermentation makes this more flexible than traditional composting.
Will it smell?
Not with the lid on. The buckets seal, so smells stay in and flies stay out. That’s why they work indoors, even in flats.
When you open it, you’ll notice a sour, pickled smell, a bit like vinegar or sauerkraut. That’s normal and means the fermentation is working. Bokashi pickles your food scraps instead of letting them rot.
A few habits keep it at its best:
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Sprinkle a handful of bran over each new layer of scraps
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Press the scraps down to squeeze out air
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Keep the lid shut tight between uses
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When you get a fresh bucket, splash a little water inside and swirl a handful of bran around so it coats the bottom and walls
If it ever smells rotten instead of sour, more bran and a firmer lid usually fixes it. Message us and we’ll help.
How often are collections?
We operate weekly routes across Bristol.
But collections are request-based, not automatic.
You request a swap when your bucket is full.
For most households, that’s anywhere from:
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once a week
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to once every few months
This keeps the system flexible and low-impact.
Where do my food SCRAPS go?
Your food scraps:
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stay in Bristol
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are fermented and composted locally
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become living compost
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return to gardens and growing spaces
They don’t go to landfill.
They don’t leave the city.
Do I get compost back?
Yes, depending on your membership and preference.
You can:
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receive compost
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donate it locally
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support community growing
Most members take compost a few times a year, often in the growing season.
What is living compost?
Compost rich in microbial life, organic matter, and plant-available nutrients. It:
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improves soil structure
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increases water retention
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supports biodiversity
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feeds soil life as well as plants
How is this different from council collection?
Council systems often prioritise removal.
This system focuses on regeneration.
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food scraps stay local
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nutrients return to Bristol soil
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compost supports real growing spaces
Is this suitable for flats?
Yes.
No garden needed.
No outdoor bin required.
Buckets are compact, sealed, and designed for indoor use.
What if I don’t need compost?
No problem.
Your share can be:
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donated to community gardens
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used in schools
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returned to shared growing spaces
You’re still contributing to soil regeneration.
Can I change or cancel my membership?
Yes.
You can upgrade, downgrade, pause, or cancel at any time.
Is this a subscription or a service?
It’s both.
You’re not paying for waste removal.
You’re participating in a local system that turns food scraps into soil.
Do you offer support?
Yes.
You’ll receive:
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guidance on using the system
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access to workshops and events
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help whenever you need it