What Our Members Say About Bokashi Composting in Bristol

Bokashi composting is still unfamiliar to many people in Bristol. When we first explain it, fermenting food waste in sealed buckets using microbes, the reaction is often sceptical.

Will it smell?

Is it complicated?

Does it actually work?

Rather than answering those questions ourselves, we prefer to let our members speak.

Here’s what people across Bristol, from households and allotments to community spaces and businesses, are saying about using bokashi composting with Generation Soil.

Why People Choose Bokashi Composting in Bristol

Most people who join the Bristol Living Compost Project didn’t start out as compost enthusiasts.

Many were frustrated by council food waste bins, put off by smells, maggots, or the lack of connection between their waste and where it ended up.

Bokashi offered something different.

It allowed people to compost all food waste cleanly, indoors, and without odour, while knowing their scraps would be turned into living compost for local soil.

“No Smell, No Maggots, No Stress”

One of the most common concerns we hear is about smell. Bokashi fermentation is anaerobic, meaning food waste doesn’t rot in the way people expect.

Adrian explains it best:

“Fantastic service. They collect my food waste and turn it into compost for my garden and allotment. The sealable containers are great. No smell, no maggots, unlike the council brown bins.”

For many members, this alone is enough to make bokashi composting a long-term habit.

“It Actually Fits Real Life”

Bokashi composting works particularly well for smaller households and flats, where traditional composting feels impractical.

Jasmine shares:

“The fermentation process doesn’t smell at all and as I’m only in a house of two, it can take up to a month to fill the bucket. The soil I’ve had from it feels so much better than anything I could buy.”

Members appreciate that bokashi adapts to their lives, rather than demanding constant attention.

Turning Food Waste into Compost You Can See and Feel

For many people, the moment bokashi composting really clicks is when they receive compost back.

That transformation from scraps to soil is powerful.

Connor puts it simply:

“Turning my food waste into the best compost I’ve ever used. Couldn’t be happier.”

And Jess adds:

“I wasn’t composting before because I couldn’t deal with the sludge and smell. Bokashi changed that completely. The compost is incredible and my plants are thriving.”

This is where bokashi moves from theory into lived experience.

Bokashi as a Gateway to Soil Awareness

Something we’ve noticed again and again is that bokashi composting often leads to a deeper interest in soil health.

Once people see how microbes transform waste, they start to look differently at the ground beneath their feet.

Imogen noticed it in her garden:

“Excellent quality compost. The flowers and veg have really thrived this year, and it’s been great at retaining moisture.”

Bokashi becomes less about waste management and more about participation in a living system.

Community, Not Just Composting

Bokashi composting at Generation Soil isn’t a standalone product. It’s part of a wider, community-led composting system in Bristol.

Tav reflects on this:

“Alex has created an amazing community of like minded individuals in Bristol who share the same values around food recycling and composting.”

Members often tell us that knowing their food waste stays local, feeds soil, and supports community growing spaces is just as important as the compost itself.

Why Bokashi Works So Well in Cities Like Bristol

Urban composting comes with constraints: limited space, neighbours close by, and busy lives.

Bokashi solves many of these challenges:

• It works indoors

• It handles all food waste, including cooked food

• It produces no odour when used correctly

• It feeds living soil rather than landfill or anaerobic digestion

That’s why bokashi composting has become a cornerstone of Bristol’s growing community composting movement.

Thinking About Bokashi Composting in Bristol?

If you’re curious about bokashi but unsure where to start, you’re not alone.

Most of our members felt the same way before joining.

Now, they’re composting confidently, receiving living compost back, and playing a role in regenerating Bristol’s soil.

👉 Join the Bristol Living Compost Project

👉 Learn more about bokashi composting and living soil

👉 Turn your food waste into something that actually feeds the city

Sometimes the best way to understand a system is to hear from the people already living it.