A Lazy Person Tries Cardboard Composting: Eco-Friendly Living Starting at 500 Yen / Niigata City

What do you do with your kitchen scraps like vegetable peels?

If you just put them in a trash bag, they leak liquid,
they're bulky, and above all, they make the trash heavy.

It’s been bothering me for a while.

And you know, I knew that
“vegetable scraps can become fertilizer.”

Isn't it wonderful that “trash can become a resource”?

But it’s not just about putting the vegetable scraps directly into the soil—
it seems you have to let them decompose.

How do you even decompose them...?

As I looked into it,
I learned about something called cardboard composting.

Hmm, sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

What’s so good about composting, you ask?

Apparently, about half of the burnable trash
that comes from households is actually “water.”

That’s surprising, isn't it?

So,
if we can reduce the amount of kitchen scraps that contain water,
we can significantly reduce burnable trashas a result.

If we could reduce it by nearly half, that would be substantial.

Reducing kitchen scraps helps reduce CO2.
In other words, it’s eco-friendly.

Plus, the trash turns into fertilizer,
and you can even grow delicious vegetables.

Furthermore, if you have less trash, you save money on trash bags,
and you reduce the number of times you have to take out the trash.

It’s all pros, isn't it?

I’m suddenly full of motivation!

No one can stop me now that I've reached this point. Hehehe
Now, let the investigation begin.

Even though we call it composting,

・Full-scale ones with wooden frames,
・Simple ones using cardboard,
・All-in-one sets, and so on.

Well, there are various options.

I'd hate to get too enthusiastic and fail,
so it's better to have a low initial investment.

It would be even better if it were casual enough
to just throw away if I fail.

After much hesitation, I arrived at...

the cardboard compost sold by Niigata City
It was.

Believe it or not,

Everything you need for one coin.

I was convinced that this was it.

Even if I fail, it won't hurt at this price.
I decided on this.

Today,

is what I will be sending you.

If you are even slightly
interested in composting, this is a must-see.

What is the
cardboard compost sold in Niigata City?

The cardboard compost sold in Niigata City
for just 500 yen.

Its name is

Saicho's Magic Cardboard

By the way, Saicho is
Niigata City's waste reduction mascot.

It is sold at facilities like the Eco Plaza and Aqua Park Niigata, as well as
at each ward office in Niigata City.

I went directly to the ward office to purchase it.
(At the Ward Resident Life Division)

Oh, it seems this is a privilege only for those living in Niigata City.
(Sorry for the regional limitation.)

For those outside the city, if you look up
whether there are similar services in your area,
you might find various options.

Even if you are making your own,
please try using this content as a reference.

What is inside Saicho's Magic Cardboard?

Let's open it up.

1. Base material

It seems to be made from recycled bamboo powder and mushroom cultivation beds.

It has a scent that suggests the microorganisms will work well.
(Actually, it is odorless.)

For those who want just this,
the base material is sold separately for 400 yen.

2. Inner bag

A bag for putting the soil in.
It is quite sturdy, so there is no worry about it tearing.

The gusset is also perfect.

It is made of non-woven fabric to allow moisture and air to pass through.

3. Cardboard (main body, lid, bottom plate)

The cardboard is not just a simple box.
This is what it looks like when you open it.

When I try removing this perforated part...

The bottom board is firmly reinforced.

In short, it's like a raised bottom,
which is apparently better for ventilation than just placing it flat on the ground.

If I had tried to make this myself, it would have been a huge hassle.

It's well-made!

4. Instruction Manual

Since it includes an instruction manual for beginners,
you'll know exactly how to get started.

Let's try making a cardboard compost bin

Now, I'll make the compost while following the manual.

Since soil might spill,
I'll do the work outdoors.

Preparing the cardboard compost bin

Set the inner bag in the cardboard box and add the base material.
Then, add rice-washing water or plain water and mix it all up.

I'm doing this eco-activity with my first-grade daughter.

Before closing the lid,
it seems it's a good idea to cover the bag with an old T-shirt
to keep insects out.

Then, close the lid,
place it in a spot where it won't get rained on, and it's done.

It seems a well-ventilated spot is best.

The box has a raised bottom, so
I thought it would be fine, but
I added an extra raised base just in case.

I didn't want any liquid leaking out, so
I prepared a waterproof mat underneath by wrapping cardboard in plastic wrap.

I've done everything I can now.
It's perfect.

I'll let the base material sit overnight to let it get nice and moist.

What to do after preparing the cardboard compost

Now that the foundation is complete,
it's finally time to start my compost life.

The process is very simple.

Add about 300g of food scraps a day and mix well

That's all there is to it.

Points to keep in mind when adding scraps:

・Chopping food scraps into small pieces helps them decompose faster
・Drain excess moisture if they are very wet
・Check the dryness and adjust moisture levels accordingly

I'm not sure about it yet, but let's give it a try.
I'll chop up these vegetable peels...

Add them to the base material.

Mix well.

That's it.

Maybe it's easier than I thought.
I'm going to do this every day from now on.

Summary

Today,

a lazy person tried cardboard composting
Preparation Edition

was what I sent you.

The appeal of using the
cardboard composting
offered by Niigata City is that you can start immediately for 500 yen.

With less food waste,
have I taken a step closer to an eco-friendly life?

If you are interested in composting,
why not take the plunge and give it a try?

Now, will this lazy person be able to continue their composting life successfully?

Stay tuned for future updates.

Click here for more on Niigata City's cardboard composting↓

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