How to Build a Compost System in Your Backyard or Condo (Malaysia Guide)

♻️ Intro: Turn Sampah into Soil Gold

Every day, we throw away food scraps, vegetable peels, and garden trimmings without realizing they’re actually nutrient-packed gold for our plants.

Composting is one of the best ways to reduce waste and feed your garden — whether you live in a landed home or a tight-space condo.

In this guide, we’ll break down how to start composting at home (Malaysia edition) — no fancy equipment needed.

🌱 What is Composting?

Composting is the process of turning organic waste into nutrient-rich soil (aka “black gold”) through natural decomposition.

It’s how you give back to the Earth while saving money on fertilizer.

🧑‍🍳 Composting in Malaysia: Why It’s a Great Idea

Reduces household waste
Enriches soil naturally
Saves money on garden products
Supports sustainable gardening
Reduces landfill methane gas

And most importantly… your plants will LOVE it.

🧺 What You Can Compost

✅ Green Waste (Nitrogen-rich)

Fruit & veggie scraps
Coffee grounds
Fresh garden clippings
Tea leaves/bags (no staples)

✅ Brown Waste (Carbon-rich)

Dry leaves
Shredded paper/newspaper
Cardboard (torn up)
Rice husks or sawdust

❌ Avoid Composting

Cooked food, oily food, meat, fish
Dairy, bones, pet waste
Plastic, synthetic cloth

📦 Choose Your Composting Method

1. Outdoor Garden Compost Bin

Perfect for those with a backyard.

Use a plastic drum, wooden box, or open compost pile
Size: At least 2ft x 2ft
Keep it shaded to avoid overheating

2. Condo-Friendly Compost Bucket

Ideal for apartment/condo dwellers with balconies or laundry areas.

Use a covered pail or paint bucket with holes
Add kitchen scraps and shredded paper daily
Stir weekly

3. Bokashi Composting

Fermentation-based, good for small spaces.

Uses EM (Effective Microorganisms) bran
Seals smell during breakdown
Needs a special airtight bin

🛠️ Step-by-Step Guide: Backyard Compost System

What You Need:

A large container (bin, box, drum)
Drill for air holes
Lid or cover
Brown & green materials

How to Build:

Drill holes in the base and sides (for airflow & drainage)
Layer your browns and greens alternately (start with browns)
Spray lightly with water (keep moist, not soggy)
Turn the pile weekly to speed up decomposition
Let it sit for 6–8 weeks

📏 Pro tip: The ideal compost mix is 2 parts brown to 1 part green.

🏙️ Step-by-Step: Condo Compost Bucket

What You Need:

Small lidded bin (10–20L)
Drill for a few air holes
Tray or basin underneath
Kitchen waste & shredded paper

How to Build:

Add your first layer of dry leaves/paper
Add chopped kitchen scraps (no meat)
Cover with dry waste again
Stir every 3–4 days
When full, leave for 2 weeks before using

No balcony? Keep the bucket in a shaded laundry area or near a window.

🧪 How to Know It’s Working

Sign	What It Means
Earthy smell	✅ Good decomposition
White fungus threads	✅ Microbial activity
Smelly & wet	❌ Too much green waste
Dry & inactive	❌ Needs moisture or greens

📦 When Is It Ready?

Crumbly, dark brown material
Earthy smell
No visible food scraps

💡 Takes around 6 to 8 weeks depending on temperature and materials.

🌻 How to Use Your Compost

Mix with potting soil (1:3 ratio)
Add to planting holes for veggies/fruits
Use as top-dressing for fruit trees or raised beds
Sprinkle into chilli, pandan, lemongrass pots

Avoid using unfinished compost — it may attract pests or “burn” your plants.

💡 Bonus: How to Make Compost Tea

Soak 1 cup of compost in 1L of water overnight
Strain and spray on leaves/soil
Use weekly for healthy growth

🧼 Cleaning Tips

Wash bins with vinegar or baking soda once emptied
Use trays to catch compost liquid (“leachate”) for outdoor use
Don’t let cooked food sneak in!

🤔 Common FAQ

Q: Won’t it smell bad?
A: Not if done right. Compost should smell earthy — not like rotting food.

Q: What about flies or maggots?
A: Avoid adding meat. Use shredded paper to cover wet waste.

Q: Can I use worms?
A: Yes! Vermicomposting is another awesome method, but it’s optional.

🧠 Final Thoughts

Composting is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to reduce waste and boost your garden’s health.

Whether you have a big backyard or a condo balcony, there’s always space for a little compost magic.

📸 Show Us Your Setup!

Got a compost bin, bucket, or Bokashi setup? Tag @projectharvest.my and inspire other Malaysians to go zero-waste! 🌿

Hi Jennifer,

Those are good questions.

For the answers for your questions:
1. You can add your fruit/veg peels on a daily basis. The earlier to add the materials into the compost bin, the faster the breakdown process begins. *Remember not to add raw meat or processed food into the bin as it would attract rodents and other pest.

2. It actually depends on where you place your bins. If the bins are place in your garden, you can simply get or make holes to the bins to let the compost liquid to flow to the ground naturally. On the other hand, you can get the compost bin with the tap if you place it on a concrete/tiled surface or you wish to collect the liquid and pour it to your other plants in your garden. The compost liquid it a really good fertilizer. *Note: you can add water to dilute the compost liquid before pouring it to your plant. It depends on how concentrated you feel the compost liquid is. You would need to experiment a bit with the ratio of compost liquid to water.

3. As mentioned in No.2, you can place it on either grass or hard surface. It is not a problem to whichever surface you place it. *Tip: If you decide to use the compost bin with an attached tap at the bottom, do place a few bricks underneath the compost bin to ease your access to the tap. Elavate it a bit so that you can place at least a small pail under the tap.

All the best with your compost bin installation. Do let us know how it turns out and even share your experience of installing it by tagging us on IG @projectharvest.my!

Remember to have fun ya.

Jennifer Cheong

3 July 2025 at 11:35 am

Thanks for your tips on composting. Some questions:
1. Do I need to fill up my compost bin at one go, or can I add to my compost bin on a daily basis? If the former, how do I keep my daily fruit/veg peels from spoiling before I put them in the bin? Keep in the fridge?
2. I see that there are bins with taps at the bottom to drain out excess liquid – is it advisable to buy that type of bin?
3. I have a garden. Do I have to put the bin on the grass, or can I put it in the porch, ie on a hard floor?

Thanks for your help.

Lavinesh
8 July 2025 at 7:34 am

Hi Jennifer,

Those are good questions.

For the answers for your questions:
1. You can add your fruit/veg peels on a daily basis. The earlier to add the materials into the compost bin, the faster the breakdown process begins. *Remember not to add raw meat or processed food into the bin as it would attract rodents and other pest.

2. It actually depends on where you place your bins. If the bins are place in your garden, you can simply get or make holes to the bins to let the compost liquid to flow to the ground naturally. On the other hand, you can get the compost bin with the tap if you place it on a concrete/tiled surface or you wish to collect the liquid and pour it to your other plants in your garden. The compost liquid it a really good fertilizer. *Note: you can add water to dilute the compost liquid before pouring it to your plant. It depends on how concentrated you feel the compost liquid is. You would need to experiment a bit with the ratio of compost liquid to water.

3. As mentioned in No.2, you can place it on either grass or hard surface. It is not a problem to whichever surface you place it. *Tip: If you decide to use the compost bin with an attached tap at the bottom, do place a few bricks underneath the compost bin to ease your access to the tap. Elavate it a bit so that you can place at least a small pail under the tap.

All the best with your compost bin installation. Do let us know how it turns out and even share your experience of installing it by tagging us on IG @projectharvest.my!

Remember to have fun ya.