My neighbor told me my compost bin was attracting rats and I still can't let it go

This was about 6 months ago when I first started trying to compost in my apartment in Portland. I had this little countertop bin with a charcoal filter and I was so proud of myself for finally doing it. Then my downstairs neighbor, this older guy named Jerry, knocks on my door and says "You know that thing is gonna draw rats right?" He was real serious about it too. I tried to explain that I kept it sealed and emptied it every few days but he just rolled his eyes and walked off. Honestly it bothered me way more than it should have... I spent the next week second guessing everything I was putting in there. Has anyone else dealt with a neighbor who just assumes apartment composting is nasty or impossible? What do you even say to that?

2 comments

2 Comments

butler.brian25d ago

Jerry's not totally wrong but he's not right either. Rats can be a problem with compost, but a sealed countertop bin emptied every few days is pretty low risk, especially if you keep it clean and avoid meat or oily stuff. Maybe ask him what specific complaints he's had before and see if there's a middle ground you both can live with.

ruby_sanchez4525d agoMost Upvoted

A friend of mine had a similar situation with her neighbor a few years back. She bought a tumbling composter for her small backyard and the neighbor got worried about rats. My friend invited him over to see how it worked and showed him the tight seal on the lid and the wire mesh at the bottom. She also agreed to only put in vegetable scraps and no cooked food. Turns out the neighbor had a bad experience with a neighbor before who just piled rotting food on the ground. Once he saw how clean and contained my friend's setup was, he dropped his complaint. They actually ended up sharing compost for their gardens.