Household Composting FAQs
Bristol Living Compost Project
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Got questions about composting, collections, buckets, or memberships?
You’re not alone.
Here are the most common questions we’re asked about the Bristol Living Compost Project.
What is the Bristol Living Compost Project?
The Bristol Living Compost Project is a household membership scheme run by Generation Soil CIC. It allows people living in Bristol to contribute food waste to a shared, city-wide composting system that keeps nutrients local and returns them to soil as living compost.
Who can join?
You can join if you live in Bristol and are within our collection area. The project is designed primarily for households. Schools, community spaces, and organisations can join our business food waste collection service.
What food waste 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
You should not add:
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plastic or packaging
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liquids or large amounts of oil
The bokashi fermentation process makes this much more flexible than traditional composting.
Will it smell?
No.
The system uses bokashi fermentation, which:
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prevents rotting
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suppresses smells
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keeps flies and maggots away
Buckets are sealable and suitable for indoor use, even in flats.
This is one of the main reasons members switch from council food waste bins.
How often is food waste collected?
We run weekly collection rounds across Bristol on Mondays.
However, household collections are request-based, not automatic weekly pickups.
This means:
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we are in your area every week
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you only request a collection when your bucket is full
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most households need a collection anywhere between one week and three months, depending on how much food waste they generate
When your bucket is full, you request a collection and we swap it for a clean one on our next available round.
This approach:
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reduces unnecessary transport
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keeps the system flexible
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fits different household sizes and routines
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supports a genuinely low-carbon, local system
You’re not expected to put a bucket out every week.
You’re asked to request a swap only when it’s needed.
Where does my food waste go?
Your food waste:
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stays within Bristol
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is fermented and composted locally
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becomes living, biologically active compost
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is returned to gardens, allotments, schools, and growing spaces
It does not go to landfill.
It does not leave the city.
Do I get compost back?
Yes, depending on your membership and preference.
Members can:
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receive living compost back
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donate compost locally
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support community growing projects
Some members don’t need compost themselves and choose donation only.
That’s completely fine.
What is “living compost”?
Living compost contains:
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active microbial communities
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stable organic matter
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plant-available nutrients
Unlike digestate or sterile green waste compost, living compost:
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builds soil structure
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improves water retention
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supports biodiversity
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feeds soil life as well as plants
It supports long-term soil health, not just short-term growth.
How is this different from council food waste collection?
Most council systems:
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transport waste long distances
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prioritise disposal or energy generation
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return little biological value to soil
The Bristol Living Compost Project:
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keeps food waste local
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uses biological composting processes
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returns nutrients to Bristol soils
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supports local food growing and learning
It’s composting as soil building, not waste removal.
Is this suitable for flats or small homes?
Yes.
Many members:
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live in flats
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have no garden
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don’t want outdoor bins
We use compact, sealable buckets designed for indoor use.
No outdoor space is required.
What if I don’t need compost myself?
That’s fine.
Compost can be:
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donated to community gardens
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used in schools and growing projects
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applied to shared growing spaces
Your membership still supports soil regeneration across the city.
Can I change or cancel my membership?
Yes.
You can:
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change plans
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upgrade or downgrade
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cancel at any time
Annual memberships offer better value but are optional.
Is this a subscription or a service?
It’s both.
Your membership:
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funds local food waste collection
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supports biological composting
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builds a circular system for Bristol
Rather than paying for waste disposal, you’re participating in a working nutrient loop.
Do you offer support or advice?
Yes.
Members receive:
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clear guidance on using the system
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access to workshops and events
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ongoing support if questions come up
About Generation Soil
Who are you and what do you do?
We’re a Bristol-based social enterprise turning local food waste into living compost. Using microbes, community action, and regenerative principles, we’re restoring the city’s soils one bucket at a time. Every handful of our compost helps reduce landfill waste, boost soil biodiversity, and strengthen local food security.
Why is soil health so important?
Healthy soil is full of life; bacteria, fungi, worms, and tiny organisms that recycle nutrients and store carbon. Without living soil, plants struggle, food systems break down, and ecosystems suffer. Regenerating soil means regenerating life.
Composting and Food Waste
What happens to the food waste you collect?
Your food scraps are fermented using bokashi, a microbe-powered process that prevents rot and odour. The fermented material is then mixed with local woodchip and processed in our in-vessel composters before maturing naturally into rich, biologically active compost.
Can I compost if I don’t have a garden?
Yes! That’s exactly what our Bristol Living Compost Project was designed for. You can join our food waste collection scheme and still take part in soil regeneration; no garden required.
What can go in the food waste bucket?
Pretty much everything; fruit, vegetables, coffee grounds, cooked food, bread, dairy, and even small bones. Bokashi composting allows a much wider range of materials than traditional garden composting.
Living Compost and Soil Products
What’s the difference between your compost and shop-bought compost?
Commercial compost is often sterile and lifeless. Our Living Compost is full of beneficial microorganisms that keep soil alive, improve water retention, and enhance plant health. It’s 100% peat-free, chemical-free, and locally made in Bristol.
How do I use Living Compost?
Use it as a mulch, soil conditioner, or in potting mixes. A small amount goes a long way. It inoculates your soil with microbes that continue improving fertility over time.
Is Living Compost suitable for houseplants?
Yes! Mix one part living compost with two parts regular soil or coir to give indoor plants a microbial boost.
Projects and Community
What is the Bristol Living Compost Project?
It’s our city-wide initiative connecting households, schools, and businesses to regenerate local soil. Members contribute food waste, and we return compost to community gardens and green spaces across Bristol.
Can I volunteer?
Absolutely! @e welcome volunteers of all ages and abilities. Whether you’d like to help process compost, plant trees, or support our educational workshops, there’s a way to get involved.
Do you run workshops or talks?
Yes! We run hands-on composting workshops, school sessions, and business training focused on sustainability, soil health, and circular food systems.
Supporting Regeneration
How does buying from Generation Soil help?
Every purchase, whether it’s compost, art, or handmade patches supports our mission to reduce food waste, create living soils, and empower communities through education and local action.
Is Generation Soil a CIC?
Yes, we’re a Community Interest Company (CIC), which means all profits are reinvested into community composting, soil regeneration, and food education projects across Bristol.
Composting With Care, Not Control
The Bristol Living Compost Project is designed to fit real life.
Simple.
Local.
Biological.
Human-scale.
Made in Bristol.
Powered by people, compost, and time.