Have you noticed how much leftover food you put in your bin after dinner every evening? School lunchbox leftovers? Raw bones? Stale bread? That food ends up in the landfill. You might ask me, “But Tash, what’s the problem? If it goes to the landfill, won’t it decompose?”

That, my dear friend, is the problem.

When food waste is buried in a landfill, it’s trapped and shielded from air, creating an anaerobic environment. Microorganisms, like bacteria and archaea, thrive in these oxygen-free conditions and break down the organic matter in food scraps. This decomposition process produces methane, a gas that is significantly more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping heat in the atmosphere.

In South Africa, about 10 million tons of food are wasted every year, which is one-third of the country’s food production. Households in South Africa waste an average of 1.96 kg of food daily! It is really our duty, to look at alternative ways for you to deal with your leftover food and kitchen scraps. This is the reason why I started using a Bokashi system at home, and why we ALL should be using these systems.

Bokashi is a composting method that uses anaerobic (oxygen-free) fermentation to break down food waste, unlike traditional composting, which relies on decomposition, bokashi ferments organic material using beneficial microbes found in a special inoculated bran (bokashi bran).

How It Works:

1. Collect Food Scraps – Add all kinds of food waste, including meat, dairy, and cooked foods, into an airtight container.
2. Sprinkle Bokashi Bran – Every time you add food waste, sprinkle a handful of bokashi bran to introduce beneficial microbes.
3. Seal & Ferment – Keep the bin airtight for about 2 weeks, allowing fermentation to occur.
4. Bury or Compost Further – After fermentation, the food scraps can be buried in soil to finish breaking down or added to a traditional compost pile.

Why Use Bokashi?

• Works faster than traditional composting.
• Can handle meat, dairy, and oily foods that regular composting can’t.
• Produces a nutrient-rich soil amendment and beneficial microbes for the garden.
• No foul odors – has a mild, pickled smell instead.
• Can be done indoors, making it ideal for apartments or urban spaces.

I am using this system from Bokashi Bran®

With Bokashi Bran® buckets, food waste is sealed, preventing flies, maggots, rats, and unpleasant smells. Instead of being a nuisance, waste becomes a resource. By separating food waste at the source, recycling of plastics, glass, and paper becomes easier, and less waste ends up in landfills. Plus, it encourages people to think twice about the food they throw away.

The innovative bucket features a straining tray that separates solid food waste from liquid as fermentation occurs. The Bokashi Bran® straining tray is designed with legs that won’t collapse and comes with a lifetime guarantee. Plus, with a built-in tap, you can easily drain off the liquid and use it as a concentrated organic plant food. Don’t let your food waste go to waste.

It is time for all of us to be more mindful of what we use, eat, and what we do with all our waste!

Bokashi: Because even leftovers deserve a second chance

Happy Composting Friends

Tash & Family