How To Make Your Own
Compost In A Bottle

Introduce kids to the wonders of composting with this easy compost in a bottle project! This hands-on activity allows tamariki to layer food scraps, soil, and newspaper, watching as they break down into rich compost over 6-8 weeks. A fun way to learn about sustainability and gardening!

What You'll Need

An empty 1.5 or 2 litre fizzy drink bottle with label removed
Sharp scissors/craft knife
Garden soil
Green waste – flowers, leaves, kitchen scraps
Shredded newspaper
Handful of blood and bone (or other garden fertiliser)
Water spray
Packing tape
Small square of breathable cloth (a chux cloth works well)
String/rubber band

Instructions

Remove the top third of the bottle using sharp scissors or a craft knife
Add a small amount of garden soil to the base of the bottle
Build layers - Alternate layers of soil, green waste, shredded newspaper, small amount of blood and bone, finishing with a top layer of soil. Spray each layer with some water (especially the newspaper layer)
Tape the top third of the bottle back onto the filled base
Remove the screw lid of the bottle. Cover the top with the fabric and secure with string or a rubber band
Place in a sunny spot and watch the contents break down over 6-8 weeks
Shake about once a week to let air through the composting materials
Once the contents have broken down into loose crumbly compost add to the garden