Why does my Bokashi bin smell?

Let me guess, you are new to home composting, and now you are concerned about the strange odor coming from your Bokashi Organko container? Don’t worry; the bokashi bin smell is completely normal as long it does not stink like rotten food.

The fermentation process in your Bokashi Organko composter is caused by microorganisms found in the Bokashi bran you have been adding on top of each bio-waste layer. This completely organic activity should emit a distinct sour-sweet odor, which you will notice every time you open the container.

However, when properly sealed, your Bokashi Organko should not affect the smells in your kitchen. If it does, there might be something wrong. Let’s have a look at what might have caused the unpleasant bokashi bin smell.

Does your Bokashi bin smell like rotten eggs?

The unpleasant smells coming out of your Bokashi Organko composter are most probably not caused by the fermentation process. If your kitchen stinks of rotten eggs, bad meat and/or putrid cabbage, it can only mean one thing - the food is decaying, not decomposing.

What can you do? First of all - don’t panic. This is an honest mistake that can happen to every zero-waste lifestyle beginner. Nothing is lost, as the decaying process can quickly be turned back into decomposing. Let’s see what might have caused your food to rot in the first place.

Add more bio-waste to your Bokashi Organko composter

It is noted that larger amounts of organic waste ferment better than smaller ones. Decomposing will be much more efficient with less air in the container, as this process requires a minimum amount or no oxygen present. This is an easy mistake when you just started home composting.

What you need to do is prepare a firmer base for your fermentation mass. Make sure to start composting with at least one to two litters of biowaste. Add 20 milliliters of Bokashi bran and press it really well. This should do the trick.

Add more Bokashi bran

Another possible reason why your bokashi bin smell can be in the amount of Bokashi bran you have added. Remember, microorganisms found in the Bokashi bran are crucial for the optimal fermentation process. Without them, the organic waste will decay, not decompose.

Make sure to add enough Bokashi bran, especially at the beginning of your indoor composting project. Latter, you should scatter it after every layer of bio-waste. If you are not sure how much bran you should add, we recommend being more generous. Later, when you gain more experience, you can lower the dosage if you see that the fermentation process goes well.

Make sure that bio-waste is not too wet

The third most common cause of bad bokashi bin smell is a high moisture level in your container. This can prevent the growth and reproduction of microorganisms, which - as you already know by now - are very important for the ideal fermentation process.

If the vegetable or fruit you were going to put into your Bokashi Organko composter is soaked in water, we recommend you leave it in the sink for a while and wait for it to dry. These kinds of leftovers are always a bit moist, so don’t worry if they are not completely dry when you toss them in the bin. Just make sure they are as dry as they should be in their natural form.

Especially in the summer months, you might notice water drops caused by condensation in your Bokashi Organko bin. Don’t worry; it can easily be sorted by putting a piece of newspaper on top of the last layer. It will absorb the moisture and help you make your indoor composting even more effortless.

Don’t forget to drain your Bokashi Organko composter regularly

Another reason for the bad odor coming from your composter might not be rotting food. You probably just forgot to drain the bokashi liquid. Remember to do it regularly. It is full of organic nutrients, and diluted can be used to fertilize your plants.

If you forget to take it out, the microorganisms will consume the nutrients very quickly, which will lead pathogenic organisms to multiply and produce a horrific smell. Once the bokashi liquid starts to rot, you can pour it down the kitchen sink, making it cleaner.

Isn’t indoor composting easy?

Hopefully, we have helped you find the reason for the foul smell coming from your Bokashi Organko composter. At this point, we would also like to thank you for investing your time in home composting and thus taking your part in the never-ending sustainability cycle.

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