FAQ
How does the composter work?
What to put in the composter?
All your organic waste except bones, shells and pits as they decompose very, very slowly and meat which is a carrier of disease!
But what is organic waste?
These are your vegetable and fruit peelings, food scraps, dry bread, expired food, your eggshells, but also your used tissues and paper towels, ...
Don't be afraid, even citrus fruits like lemons and oranges can be composted!
What you can't put in :
Plastic, metal, cardboard, glass...
In short, anything that does not degrade easily 😉
Steps in the operation of the composter
Whenever you have organic waste :
- Fill the composter with your organic waste
- Crank the handle (which crushes and mixes at the same time)
- Follow the steps indicated on the application
The application will guide you by giving you advice on how to use the composter.
Sensors located in the compost monitor it so that you have a good compost and above all, no smell!
The composting cycle of the waste takes about 2 months.
Of course as it is a continuous cycle, you will get potting soil continuously and you will have to collect it from time to time.... but luckily the app will be there to remind you! 😉
What if I don't have a smartphone to download the application?
We are preparing for the year 2024 a web version of the application that can be consulted from any web browser.
What comes out of the composter? And in what quantity?
Our composter follows the same principle as the composting that takes place in the bottom of the garden. You will get mature compost, a good fertilizer for plants 😉
The amount of mature compost will depend on the amount of organic waste you produce.
We estimate 1 bucket of mature compost every 3 months for 4 people using the composter. It should be taken into account that the production of organic waste varies from one family to another and that we use the average in Belgium.
How long does it take?
About 2 months.
Thanks to the internal temperature, your composter is in good conditions to compost quickly. In addition, the shredder allows you to reduce your organic waste into pieces that can be easily attacked by micro-organisms!
The mixer completes the work by allowing good aeration but also homogenisation of the material, which favours its breakdown.
This process is accelerated compared to composting in the garden (which takes between 6 and 12 months). Thanks to all the steps, you will obtain mature compost in about 2 months.
How come it doesn't stink?
The composting process we use is aerobic composting, i.e. in the presence of oxygen. This composting process does not emit any odours! In order to have aerobic composting, i.e. in the presence of oxygen and therefore without odours, air enters the composter via a fan. To avoid the smell of waste that has just been thrown away or a smell of undergrowth due to the compost, we have integrated a carbon filter. This filters the air coming in (to prevent odours from escaping) and going out.
The activated carbon of the odour filter must be replaced after 4-6 months and will cost between 10 and 20 euro per year. They will be available on our website but also in the shops. The carbon granules, once used, can be composted.
We also suggest that you add a scoop of potting soil (from your composter) from time to time after adding organic waste. In addition to preventing odours, the compost will provide the new organic waste with bacteria and micro-organisms that will help it to decompose!
Do I need to add additives? Are there worms?
No, only the micro-organisms naturally present in your organic waste will break it down! No worm breeding is necessary as it is not a worm composter. The composter will work autonomously with only your daily organic waste.
What to do if there is a problem with the composter?
The application detects a defective sensor or you observe a problem with the mixer, ...
Don't worry, the application offers you several tutorials to replace/repair defective parts. When it is not possible to replace/repair yourself, find a date using our appointment calendar to have an expert come and help you as soon as possible!
What to do at the end of the composter's life?
We have a system for collecting composters at the end of their life. We combine several end-of-life composters to give them a new life and sell reconditioned composters afterwards.
What if I go on holiday?
No worries, you can stop filling the composter and restart the cycle afterwards without consequences. It is just important not to disconnect the power supply to the composter so that the fan continues to work.
Is it suitable for children?
Of course! Children will have the opportunity to understand the life cycle of organic matter from the plate to the garden. Sorting organic waste becomes a fun family activity.
Composting is child's play with Greenzy ! 😉
Do I need to know anything about composting?
The application will guide you through the use of the composter. You don't need to know anything about composting.
It will give you advice and guidance on how to manage the state of the compost, how to get good quality compost and how to avoid odour problems.
What are the specifications of the composter?
Colours : Anthracite grey, wood colour
Materials : Wood, recycled and recyclable anthracite plastic
Dimensions: W.35,0 x H.85,0 x D.35,0 cm
Volume : 50 L
Electricity consumption (sensors and fan): 2W = 17.52 kWh/year (equivalent to the consumption of a coffee machine plugged in continuously but not used, i.e. the equivalent of more or less 2 euros over the year).
Should the composter be attached to the wall?
The composter must be hung on the wall with 3 screws.
When we tested the prototype, testers came back to us with a stability problem during the mixing stage. To ensure a better composting experience we wanted to address this problem.
This attachment also saves you a lot of expense by removing a heavy part that would stabilise the product.
If this is a deal breaker for you, we would be interested in hearing from you.
Would it be possible to email this to info@greenzy.be?
Thank you in advance!
Can the composter be placed in a cellar?
The room temperature of the house is the ideal temperature for decomposition. If the temperature is lower, it will slow down the decomposition time but will not prevent the decomposition from taking place properly. The capacity of the composter has been sized for 4 people with a decomposition time of two months. So if this time is longer, less organic waste can be put in continuously, but otherwise everything will work the same.
Can the composter be placed outside?
It is not intended for outdoor use because the temperature inside is necessary for the proper functioning of the composter. This allows for a stable and continuous room temperature, which is the right temperature for the proper development of the micro-organisms needed for the decomposition process. Without this, it is not possible to compost in about 2 months. However, it can be placed elsewhere than in the kitchen, for example in the scullery or in the living room.
How much waste can you put in the composter?
The composter is designed to continuously compost the waste of a household of one to four people.
Does the composter have to be plugged into an outlet?
The composter must be plugged in continuously to operate the fan and to monitor the compost. However, it consumes very little power, 2W or 17.5 kWh/year, which is equivalent to the consumption of a coffee machine that is continuously plugged in but not used.
What about ecology?
Where do the materials in the composter come from?
We pay particular attention to the origin of our raw materials.
Most of our materials come from Belgium. If we can't find materials of sufficient quality in Belgium, we go and get them in Europe.
What is the life cycle of the composter?
We have a system for collecting composters at the end of their life. We combine several end-of-life composters to give them a new life and sell reconditioned composters afterwards. When the material is plastic, it is recycled and recyclable!
What is my environmental impact by composting?
5 people who compost avoid the equivalent of the pollution of one car per year!
You save half of your garbage from being transported by truck, which causes a lot of pollution! Moreover, only 6% of organic waste is composted, the rest is buried or incinerated...
The composter makes it possible to avoid this production of CO2 while returning minerals to the earth, improving its nutritive capacity and thus the biodiversity of the garden. Want to know more? Read our article on the subject here!
What is the price?
Locally sourced
We pay particular attention to the origin of our raw materials.
Most of our materials come from Belgium. If we can't find materials of sufficient quality in Belgium, we go and get them in Europe.
Quality product that lasts over time
In order to have a quality product that can last over time, we choose our materials from producers known for their quality and who share the same values as us.
Recycled and recyclable materials
When the material is plastic, it is recycled. This means that the plastic has a new life and comes from plastic waste.
Furthermore, our plastic is recyclable. This plastic has the chemical properties to be reused. However, before melting down the unusable material, we give a second life to our end-of-life composters and recondition them by assembling several end-of-life composters.
You will even receive a bonus for returning your composter at the end of its life!
Is there a charge for the application?
No. The application is free and can be downloaded from the Google PlayStore or the Apple AppStore.