Tried countertop composting and my kitchen smelled like a dumpster for 3 days straight

I live in a studio in Chicago and thought I was being clever with a little stainless steel bin on my counter. Day 2 I opened it and the smell hit me like a wall. Turns out I was putting in too many citrus peels and not enough brown material. I had to dump the whole thing and scrub the bin with vinegar. Now I keep a bag of shredded paper next to the bin and add a handful every time I toss scraps. Has anyone else had trouble balancing greens and browns in a small space?

2 comments

2 Comments

holly_green821mo ago

Relax, it's just food scraps not a biohazard situation.

uma_webb281mo ago

Maybe try freezing your scraps instead of keeping them in a counter bin. A bag in the freezer stops the smell completely and you can still compost them later. It's a game changer for small spaces and you don't have to balance greens and browns on the spot.