The equipment

This method, of Japanese origin, requires, to compost 5.6 kilos of waste per week:

· A corrugated cardboard box with double spline (thickness: 5 mm) of dimensions 62 cm of length x 62 cm of width x 50 cm of height without plastic or metal,

· A square of corrugated cardboard with double spline (thickness: 5 mm) of dimensions 62 cm in length x 62 cm in width to strengthen the bottom of the box,

· blocks, cubes, a crate or suspension to lift the box to improve air circulation,

· 15 liters of compressed coconut fiber (which can be bought in garden or pet store).

To know the volume of a brick, we measure the sides with one centimeter and multiply these 3 values between them before dividing them by 1000 (for example 20 cm x 10 cm x 5 cm = 1000/1000 = 1 liter).

· 10 liters of charcoal (hard for horticultural use) or wood ash, (which can be bought in garden center)

· A small shovel (or a tablespoon),

· A piece of fabric (e.g. a dishcloth fixed with elastics or tulle) that will allow better ventilation while serving as a mosquito net.

It is also useful to equip with:

· A bio seal that is to say an airtight container to store the waste before burying it in the apartment compost,

· A glass / dosing bowl (or scale),

· A pruner, a good kitchen knife, or a sturdy pair of scissors,

· A dust mask,

· A bottle of anti-insect essential oils: lemon or lavender (any type) for the piece of fabric,

· (A compost thermometer).

A cardboard box with a volume of 192 liters (62x62x50) containing 15 liters of coconut fiber and 10 liters of wood ash can process from 500 to 800 grams of pieces of vegetable waste per day, or up to 5.6 kilos per week.

It is possible to use compost boxes of smaller sizes, in the same proportions. Indeed, one can choose any size of corrugated cardboard box with double groove (thickness: 5 mm).

In order to determine the size of your cardboard box, the most accurate is to weigh its waste for a few weeks.

If you have weighed your waste for two weeks, note three "black" gold numbers. Multiply the weight in grams of your weekly waste

· 34 to obtain the capacity in litres of the compost box,

· 2,7 to obtain the volume in litres of vegetable fibre,

· 1,8 to obtain the volume in litres of ash or vegetable coal ("grey matter").

If you do not want to weigh your waste, you can launch a box for a 1 kilo of biowaste per week (about 2 people) or a box for 500 grams of waste per week (for about one person). If it turns out that you will generate more organic waste, you can always start a second compost box!

The carbonaceous mixture contains 3 servings of coconut fiber for 2 servings of gray matter (wood ash or vegetable charcoal). For example, a box of 41 liters, 3 liters of coconut fiber and 2 liters of gray matter composts more than a kilo of waste per week.

To summarize some examples of box volumes, quantities of carbonaceous materials and waste:

96 liters / 7.5 liters / 5 liters / 2.8 kg

41 liters / 3 liters / 2 liters / 1 kg

19 liters / 1.5 liters / 1 liter / 500 gr

The box should be wider and longer than high, such as a box with a size of 41 liters with a length and width of 37 cm, and a height of 30 cm. This type of form makes mixing easier.