Electric Food Waste Composter - Set Up & How to Use - Neakasa

Summary

In this video, Devin Wallen explores the Niasa food waste composter, sharing a step-by-step guide on setup, operation, and maintenance. He demonstrates adding microbial packs, water, and food waste, explaining acceptable and prohibited materials. Devin highlights the machine's low noise, energy efficiency, and rapid composting cycle, producing nutrient-rich compost in 48 hours. He also provides tips on harvesting, replenishing microorganisms, and using the compost for both indoor houseplants and outdoor gardens. The video offers practical advice for maximizing the composter’s effectiveness, reducing food waste, and creating sustainable, usable compost for everyday gardening needs.

Takeaways

• 🌱 The Niasa food waste composter is compact and can easily fit in a kitchen or nearby space.
• 📦 The composter comes with activated charcoal, a microbial pack, a scooper, a brush, and a planting substrate.
• 💧 To prepare the machine, add activated charcoal, the microbial pack, and 600 mL of water, then wait 5–10 minutes for absorption.
• 🕒 The microorganisms need 20 hours to activate before adding food waste to ensure effective decomposition.
• 🥦 Acceptable food waste includes fruits, vegetables, fish, chicken, noodles, eggs, foliage, roots, and rinds; avoid bones, shells, husks, avocado pits, cooking oil, cigarette butts, paper, tape, medicines, glass, and metal.
• ⚡ The machine uses low-speed mixers and grinders, making it quiet and energy-efficient.
• 🍽️ You can add up to 3 lbs of food waste per day; decomposition takes about 4 hours, and full composting takes 48 hours.
• 🧹 The back charcoal and silicone seal help minimize odors, and there’s a deodorizer button for extra odor control.
• 🌿 When harvesting compost, leave enough to maintain the minimum level for ongoing microbial activity and wait 48 hours after last food addition.
• 🏡 Compost can be used on houseplants (thin 1/4 inch layer) or outdoor gardens (up to 1 inch layer) as a slow-release fertilizer.
• 🌴 The machine has vacation and energy-saving modes for short absences, and can be turned off safely for longer trips.
• 💡 Regular maintenance: replenish microorganisms once a year and replace activated charcoal every 3–6 months depending on usage.

Q & A

What brand of food composter is featured in the video?

The food composter featured in the video is from the brand Niasa.

What initial hesitation did Devin have about trying a food composter?

Devin was hesitant because he wasn't sure if the composter actually worked and he noted that they can be expensive.

What items are included with the Niasa composter?

The composter comes with a flower planting substrate, activated carbon, a small scooper, a brush for cleaning, and an instruction manual.

What is the purpose of the activated carbon in the composter?

The activated carbon helps to minimize odors and should be replaced every 3 to 6 months, depending on usage.

How do you prepare the microorganisms before adding food waste?

You place the microbial pack in the composter, add 600 mL (about 2.5 cups) of water, close the lid, and wait 5 to 10 minutes for them to soak and activate. Then, you wait about 20 hours before adding food waste.

What types of food can be added to the composter, and what should be avoided?

You can add fruits, vegetables, fish, chicken, noodles, eggs, foliage, roots, and rinds. Avoid bones, shells, husks, avocado pits, cooking oil, cigarette butts, paper, tape, medicines, glass, and metal.

How much food waste can be added to the composter each day, and how long does it take to decompose?

You can add up to 3 lbs of food waste per day. The material takes about 4 hours to decompose, but it takes around 48 hours to fully turn into compost.

What should you do if you want to harvest compost?

Ensure no food materials have been added at least 48 hours prior. Harvest enough compost while leaving some above the minimum level to maintain microorganisms for future composting cycles.

How can compost be used for houseplants and outdoor gardens?

For houseplants, spread no more than a 1/4 inch layer on top of the soil, up to twice a year. For outdoor gardens, sprinkle around the soil surface no more than about an inch thick. The compost acts as a slow-release fertilizer.

What happens if you go on vacation while using the composter?

For a vacation of a week or less, leave the composter on, and it will enter a low-energy mode. For longer trips, stop adding food at least 48 hours before leaving, turn off and unplug the composter, and resume composting upon return.

How does the Niasa composter manage noise and energy efficiency?

It uses low-speed mixers and grinders, making it very quiet, even quieter than a typical vacuum. It also consumes a low amount of electricity, making it energy efficient.

What feature helps to control odors when opening the composter?

There is a deodorizer button that can be pressed before opening the lid. It runs for about 5 minutes to actively reduce odors inside the composter.