Bokashi
Method
Bokashi is a sealed fermentation method for households wanting to deal with nearly all food waste, including meat, fish, dairy and cooked food. Bran inoculated with beneficial microbes ferments the waste rather than making compost immediately. The finished material still needs burying, composting or adding to a council-approved collection route.
How it works
Press food waste firmly into an airtight bokashi bin, sprinkle the required bran between additions and close the lid. The low-oxygen conditions ferment the contents over roughly two weeks once the bin is full. Drain any liquid regularly if the container has a tap, following the maker's guidance for its use. The fermented material may smell sharp or pickled, not rotten. Bury it in soil or add it in small layers to a conventional compost heap, where soil organisms complete decomposition. A second bin keeps the system running while the first ferments.
Details
Keep the bin indoors or in a sheltered place, away from direct heat. Chop bulky scraps so they pack tightly, and drain very wet food before adding it. Unlike a normal compost bin, bokashi can take meat, fish, dairy and cooked food when used exactly as intended. Do not add dog or cat waste. After fermentation, bury the contents at least 20 cm deep and allow time before planting, especially around young roots. If using an allotment, check site rules. Some council food-waste collections may be a simpler option for households with limited space.
Tips
Open the lid briefly and press out air after each addition. A putrid smell, visible mould in unusual colours or excess liquid usually indicates poor sealing or too little bran. Keep a small ordinary compost bin as well, because cardboard, prunings, leaves and other garden materials are better suited to conventional garden composting.
Bokashi: frequently asked questions
How does bokashi work?
Press food waste firmly into an airtight bokashi bin, sprinkle the required bran between additions and close the lid.
What do I need to know about bokashi?
Keep the bin indoors or in a sheltered place, away from direct heat.
What are some tips for bokashi?
Open the lid briefly and press out air after each addition.
General guidance for UK gardens and allotments. Page updated 18 Sep 2026.