NL
Bokashi Club
Composting in the Neighbourhood !
Food scraps don't need to get burned with the rest of the trash. Composting keeps organic waste out of incinerators, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and returns nutrients to soil.
If you've got space for a bucket in your kitchen, on your balcony, or in your garden, you can separate food waste and we will compost it for you.
We provide an airtight Bokashi bin. You collect food scraps at home, and when it's full (or whenever you're ready), you bring it to our Bokashi drop-off house and swap it for a clean one. The drop-off house is accessible 24/7—no appointment needed. All members get a code.
If you've got space for a bucket in your kitchen, on your balcony, or in your garden, you can separate food waste and we will compost it for you.
We provide an airtight Bokashi bin. You collect food scraps at home, and when it's full (or whenever you're ready), you bring it to our Bokashi drop-off house and swap it for a clean one. The drop-off house is accessible 24/7—no appointment needed. All members get a code.
How does it work
1. Sign up and get your Bokashi bin
Sign up through the link below. You pay a €25 deposit (refundable if you leave). Your first month is free, then €5 per month after that. After registration and payment, you can book an appointment to pick up your Bokashi set.
At pickup, we'll show you how to use the bin and give you everything you need: the Bokashi bin, starter, and an explanation card. You get one month to try it and see if it fits into your routine.
At pickup, we'll show you how to use the bin and give you everything you need: the Bokashi bin, starter, and an explanation card. You get one month to try it and see if it fits into your routine.
2. Collect your Food scraps
Every time you add food scraps, sprinkle a handful of Bokashi starter over them and close the lid tightly.
The starter is a mix of dried wheat bran and microbes that kickstart the fermentation.
Every few days, drain the liquid that collects at the bottom. This liquid is concentrated. Dilute it 1:100 with water and use it as fertilizer for houseplants. If you don't have plants, pour it down the drain (it actually helps clean pipes).
The starter is a mix of dried wheat bran and microbes that kickstart the fermentation.
Every few days, drain the liquid that collects at the bottom. This liquid is concentrated. Dilute it 1:100 with water and use it as fertilizer for houseplants. If you don't have plants, pour it down the drain (it actually helps clean pipes).
3. Drop off your bin and swap it for a clean one
When it's full, bring it to the Bokashi drop-off house (open 24/7) and grab a clean bin. We take care of the composting and cleaning the bins. The fermented scraps get mixed with browns (dry leaves, cardboard, wood chips) to make hot compost. After several months, the compost is ready for use.
What can go in your Bokashi bin ?
Before adding scraps to your bin:
Remove fruit stickers and any packaging. Chop scraps into small pieces.
This helps the fermentation process and later composting work faster.
Remove fruit stickers and any packaging. Chop scraps into small pieces.
This helps the fermentation process and later composting work faster.
Suitable ☑️ |
Unsuitable🚫 |
Fruits including Citrus fruits |
Biodegradable, compostable plastic |
Vegetables |
Oils |
Nutshells |
Animal products like cheese, bones etc |
Coffee grounds & filters, |
Paper |
Cooked leftovers (vegan) |
Carton |
Bread |
Tea bags |
Small plant pruning waste |
Flowers |
Soil |
Why Bokashi instead of a regular bin?
Most people worry that separating food waste at home means smells, flies, or mess. Bokashi bins solve this.
Airtight = no smell, no flies
The bin seals completely. Food scraps ferment inside (like pickling), but there's no rotting smell because no air gets in. You can keep it in your kitchen, balcony, or garden for weeks without noticing it.
Your kitchen bin stays cleaner
Food waste is usually the messiest, smelliest part of your trash. When you separate it into the Bokashi bin, your regular kitchen bin stays drier and cleaner. You take out the trash less often.
No composting required, we do that part
The Bokashi bin sits wherever you have space, and we handle the composting at Kaskantine.
You're separating waste, not composting it yourself.
Why Bokashi for community composting?
If we used regular bins, food waste would start rotting too quickly and members would need to drop off scraps much more often, probably every few days. Bokashi fermentation slows that process down, so you can collect for weeks before swapping bins. In the city, in apartments, it's the best way to separate and store food scraps.
Airtight = no smell, no flies
The bin seals completely. Food scraps ferment inside (like pickling), but there's no rotting smell because no air gets in. You can keep it in your kitchen, balcony, or garden for weeks without noticing it.
Your kitchen bin stays cleaner
Food waste is usually the messiest, smelliest part of your trash. When you separate it into the Bokashi bin, your regular kitchen bin stays drier and cleaner. You take out the trash less often.
No composting required, we do that part
The Bokashi bin sits wherever you have space, and we handle the composting at Kaskantine.
You're separating waste, not composting it yourself.
Why Bokashi for community composting?
If we used regular bins, food waste would start rotting too quickly and members would need to drop off scraps much more often, probably every few days. Bokashi fermentation slows that process down, so you can collect for weeks before swapping bins. In the city, in apartments, it's the best way to separate and store food scraps.
Why composting matters
When food scraps go into the regular trash, they get burned in incinerators. Burning organic waste is illogical.
It should return to the soil.
Composting turns that waste into nutrients for soil. It's a small action, but with 25 households currently participating, we're already diverting several tons per year from being burned. As we grow toward 60 households, that impact grows too.
It's not the only climate solution, but it's one thing you can do in your everyday routine.
It should return to the soil.
Composting turns that waste into nutrients for soil. It's a small action, but with 25 households currently participating, we're already diverting several tons per year from being burned. As we grow toward 60 households, that impact grows too.
It's not the only climate solution, but it's one thing you can do in your everyday routine.
Community Supported Composting
A small membership fee helps to cover our labor, bin cleaning, maintenance, and composting operations.
We currently have 25 households and are working toward 60. A local neighborhood fund provided the initial investment for materials, and we're actively seeking support from the municipality to cover the rest of the costs.
This is a subscription model because we can't rely on subsidies or volunteer work in the long term.
Your contribution makes the neighborhood composting site sustainable.
Membership details:
We currently have 25 households and are working toward 60. A local neighborhood fund provided the initial investment for materials, and we're actively seeking support from the municipality to cover the rest of the costs.
This is a subscription model because we can't rely on subsidies or volunteer work in the long term.
Your contribution makes the neighborhood composting site sustainable.
Membership details:
- €25 deposit for the bin (refundable)
- Free 30-day trial
- €5/month after that
- Cleaning your bin after each swap
- Restocking Bokashi starter (available at pickup location)
- Composting operations at Kaskantine
- 24/7 access to the drop-off house
- Newsletter 2 to 3 times a year
- Invitation to our annual Bokashi Fest in November with pizza
How to Join
Sign up with the link below.
After registration and payment, you can book an appointment to pick up your Bokashi set.
You have one month to try it and see if it fits into your routine.
After registration and payment, you can book an appointment to pick up your Bokashi set.
You have one month to try it and see if it fits into your routine.
Common Questions
What is Bokashi composting?
Bokashi composting is a unique method of fermenting kitchen waste using Effective Microorganisms (EM). Unlike traditional composting, it can handle a wider range of food scraps, including citrus fruits, and it operates in an anaerobic (without oxygen) environment. It has two steps, he first step is the fermentation, and the second step is to compost the fermented mass, which is done at the Kaskantine by us.
What is the Bokashi starter and how much do I get?
Bokashi is the essential ingredient for the fermentation process. Home composters receive an amount of Bokashi starter per year that is in principle sufficient for your use, with a max of 2 kg. Office composters receive max. 5 kg. It's the essential ingredient for the fermentation process.
Won't my food scraps smell?
Bokashi composting is a method without the unpleasant odors often associated with traditional composting. The fermentation process in Bokashi creates a pickling environment, which inhibits the growth of bacteria that cause putrefaction and thus, foul smells. You may smell a vinegar-like scent when opening the Bokashi bin. However, this is considerably less offensive than the decay smell common with other composting methods. Regularly draining the bin and maintaining an airtight seal when closed can help manage any residual odors.
How does bin swapping work?
Home composters enjoy the flexibility of 24/7 access to our compost house. Simply bring your full Bokashi bin to our accessible compost house, and exchange it for a clean one at any time that suits you. Office composters benefit from our office pick-up and swap service.
Why is there a membership fee for the Bokashi Composting Club?
Composting is a hands-on process that demands care and attention. Our membership fee is essential to secure the sustainability and expansion of our program. Here's why:
- Operational Costs: Membership fees cover operational costs, including rent and compost maintenance, ensuring the ongoing functionality of our composting initiative.
- Education and Job Creation: Funds from membership fees contribute to educational efforts and the potential creation of local job opportunities in the composting sector.
- Community Responsibility: Membership fees foster a sense of responsibility within the community. By contributing, members actively support and sustain the composting program, reducing dependence on external funding.
Can I cancel my membership?
Yes, you can cancel your membership with one month's notice in advance.
What can I do with the liquid produced during the fermention in the bin?
The liquid, often referred to as Bokashi juice, should be tapped regularly. You can dilute this juice with water at a 1:100 ratio to create a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer for your plants (10ml for 1 litre). Alternatively, the undiluted juice can be used as a natural drain cleaner.
Why Can't I compost Animal Products?
While animal products can decompose during the composting process, especially in Bokashi, our site does not accept them. Animal products often have a stronger smell than kitchen scraps, which can attract pests, and pose a higher risk for spreading harmful bacteria, like salmonella. For these reasons, we maintain an animal-product free compost site.
DE KASKANTINE IS NOT CLOSE TO MY HOUSE. WHERE ELSE CAN I COMPOST IN AMSTERDAM?
The city of Amsterdam's goal is that by the year 2030, 73% of households will have the possibility to recycle organic waste. Our composting program is helping the city to find ways to reach that goal, but we are not alone. If Kaskantine is not conveniently located for you, consider checking out some of these other Amsterdam composting initiatives:
How to find Us
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