Organic Waste Tips
With the organic waste bin, we in Frankfurt can easily turn kitchen and garden waste into valuable compost. To ensure that this works well and does not smell or attract pests, there are a few simple rules to follow. Our 8 tips show you how to use your organic waste bin correctly and support the environment and the city in the process.
For effective recycling of organic waste, separate collection at the point of origin is an important prerequisite. About one quarter of household waste consists of organic kitchen and garden waste, which can be collected and composted. Wet organic waste and kitchen meat waste should be wrapped in newspaper. This absorbs moisture and minimizes odor formation.
From the kitchen:
- Salat-, Gemüseabfälle (Kartoffelschalen, Zwiebelschalen)
- Obst-, Fruchtabfälle
- Kerne und Nussschalen
- Schalen von Südfrüchten (auch Zitronen-, Orangen- und Bananenschalen)
- Verdorbene Lebensmittel (in Zeitungspapier einschlagen)
- Speisereste (roh, gekocht, verdorben; in Zeitungspapier einschlagen)
- Fisch, Fleisch, Knochen, Gräten (in Zeitungspapier einschlagen)
- Kaffeefilter, Teebeutel
- Brot- und Gebäckreste
- Käsereste (Naturrinde)
Organic material such as kitchen and garden waste is broken down by microorganisms (mainly bacteria and fungi). In general, the decomposition processes of rotting and putrefaction are distinguished. Rotting is the normal, largely odor-free decomposition that occurs when there is enough oxygen in the compost heap. However, in the organic waste bin, putrefaction can occur due to a lack of oxygen – especially when aided by warmth.
Oxygen deficiency occurs particularly when a large amount of wet and relatively densely packed kitchen waste is put into the bin, so that sufficient ventilation inside the material is no longer ensured. However, this unpleasant consequence of a useful process can be easily prevented with simple measures.
Measures to prevent odors:
- Do not place the organic waste bin in direct sunlight; instead, keep it in the shade whenever possible.
- Wrap wet kitchen waste in newspaper or paper bags and loosely fill the bin. Egg cartons and crumpled newspaper (no glossy paper or magazines) can also be added as structural material together with wet kitchen waste. This absorbs moisture and improves ventilation. It also reduces contamination of the bin.
- Let grass clippings wilt before putting them in the bin. Freshly added, they compact easily into an airtight layer and start to rot.
- Adding rock flour, clay, fertilizer, or algae lime also binds moisture.
- Sprinkling kitchen waste with some shredded material, compost, or soil promotes aeration and acts as an odor filter.
- Keep the lid of the bin closed to prevent odors from escaping into the surroundings. When filling the bin, make sure no waste falls beside it.
- Regularly clean or have the bin cleaned (Order bin cleaning now) and always line the bottom with newspaper.
Waste bags and liners prevent the kitchen pre-sorting container from getting dirty and, if made of paper, can safely be put in the organic waste bin. There are waste bags made of tear-resistant paper. Conventional plastic bags must not be put in the organic waste bin, as they do not decompose. Even bags made of biodegradable corn or potato starch do not decompose quickly enough and therefore do not belong in the organic waste bin.
Of course, no waste bags need to be purchased, as newspaper is also suitable for lining the pre-sorting container. This keeps the pre-sorting container clean and, as a positive side effect, absorbs excess moisture. For this reason, it is also advisable to line the bottom of the organic waste bin with a layer of newspaper. This reduces odors.
Paper bags for your kitchen pre-sorting container can be purchased at the FES Service Center and the RMB Shop at a cost price of €1 / 10 pieces.
Since compost is made from organic materials, it contains all the nutrients plants need for growth. These are the main nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and calcium (Ca), as well as all trace nutrients.
The benefits of composting:
- Compost stores plant nutrients
Humus binds the plant nutrients so they cannot be washed into the groundwater by rainwater. Plants, however, can dissolve and absorb these nutrients. - Compost stores 2-3 times its own weight in water
Rainwater is stored in the soil humus and provides plants with moisture even during dry periods. - Compost loosens the soil
The loose soil is well-aerated, which is important for soil life. Plant roots can penetrate easily. Rainwater seeps into the soil instead of running off the surface. - Compost stabilizes and maintains soil pH
Compost from household and garden waste has a neutral pH. This protects the soil from acidification due to fertilization and precipitation (“acid rain”). In acidic soils (low pH), nutrients are not bound, leach into groundwater, and the topsoil becomes nutrient-poor. Most plants – except bog plants – need a neutral pH. - Compost promotes plant health
Fungi and bacteria thrive in humus-rich soil, helping suppress pathogens. - Compost increases soil temperature
In well-humus soils, the rich soil life releases energy and raises soil temperature. This has a positive effect on plants and animals. Additionally, dark, humus-rich soil warms up faster.
Compost can replace peat in many areas of application, thereby helping to protect moorland areas. Compost is a valuable soil improver. It is rich in nutrients and promotes the activity of soil organisms. This makes the soil looser and crumbier, improving its water retention capacity. It also increases the humus content and ensures the supply of nutrients, including nitrogen and trace elements. The resistance of plants is increased.
The moorlands, which cover around five million square kilometres worldwide, bind enormous amounts of carbon. The importance of Nordic moors as carbon dioxide sinks is just as great as that of the world's oceans and tropical rainforests. Two-thirds of German peat imports are supplied by the former Soviet republics of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, as German peat reserves will be exhausted in approximately 15-20 years. Peat extraction leads to a drop in the groundwater level and the irretrievable loss of a unique habitat for highly specialised animals and plants.
Peat is low in nutrients, i.e. it has no fertilising effect unless it is artificially enriched with nutrients. In addition, peat reacts acidically and binds water, so that it is no longer available to microorganisms during prolonged periods of drought. Using too much peat impoverishes the soil. Peat should only be used for plants that depend on an acidic soil environment (e.g. bog plants, rhododendrons).
Due to its high fertilising effect, compost is not suitable as pure potting soil, but can be used for fertilising purposes. Ready-mixed compost-containing substrates are now available on the market, such as HUMERRA flower and grave soil. Mineral additives such as perlite ensure long-lasting air and water storage capacity.
If only wet kitchen and garden waste without structural material is placed in the organic waste bin, the organic waste becomes compacted, rots and smells. The resulting odours attract flies to lay eggs when temperatures rise, leading to maggot development.
Sufficient structural material in the organic waste bin reduces odours. Structural material includes green waste such as branches and twigs, flowers and shrubs. Absorbent paper and cardboard waste from the kitchen, e.g. paper towels, paper bags, egg cartons and newspaper, also keep the contents of the organic waste bin air-permeable, absorb excess moisture and bind odours.
It is therefore necessary to wrap moist organic waste in sufficient newspaper in the kitchen. The drier it is in the organic waste bin, the less odour nuisance and problems with maggots occur.
The rim of the organic waste bin should be kept clean. In summer, it has proven effective to clean the rims of organic waste bins with vinegar. This prevents odours and makes the organic waste bin completely unattractive to flies.
It is a good idea to line the bottom of the bin with crumpled newspaper and to always keep the lid of the organic waste bin closed. This prevents flies from laying eggs. As far as possible, the organic waste bin should be placed in a cool and shady spot.
Careful filling of organic waste bins is particularly important during the cold season. This is because, after the first frost at the latest, the same problem arises in many places: in some cases, the brown organic waste bins cannot be emptied at all or only partially because organic waste is frozen to the bottom and sides of the bins.
This is usually caused by wet garden and kitchen waste being put in the organic waste bin.
If possible, no wet garden waste, especially leaves, should be put in the organic waste bin during frosty weather. Kitchen waste should only be well drained and placed in paper bags or newspaper. Lining the bottom of the bin with crumpled newspaper has also proven effective. The newspaper absorbs excess moisture and prevents the organic waste from freezing in winter.
In specialized stores, various companies offer mineral additives such as rock powders. Rock powders consist of specific types of rocks, contain silica, and depending on their origin, have varying amounts of lime. These finely ground rocks contain trace elements and bind odors due to their swelling capacity. Rock powder poses no risk to groundwater and can also be sprinkled over fresh waste in the compost heap.
Clay powders (bentonite, etc.) are swelling clay minerals with water- and odor-binding properties, while perlite is a volcanic rock with similar characteristics.
Such mineral additives contain only insignificant amounts of plant nutrients and are used to improve soil aeration and water retention. For example, they can be applied to the bottom of the biowaste bin immediately after emptying. Additionally, depending on the fill level, they can be sprinkled directly over the biowaste.
The goal and effect are that excess liquids, e.g., from coffee filters, tea bags, food residues, or sauces, are absorbed by the rock powder. Unpleasant odors are minimized and reduced.
To achieve similarly positive effects in the biowaste bin, it is sufficient to wrap the biowaste in a sheet of newspaper and line the bottom of the bin with crumpled newspaper. Newspaper also serves as an absorbent structural material that binds moisture and odors.
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