• About Us
  • Readers Write
  • Our People
Carthage Magazine
  • Home
  • News
  • Food & Drinks
    • Taste Tunisia
  • People
    • Interviews
    • No Sugarcoating
    • Environment
  • Style & Travel
    • Attractions
    • Trip Planning
      • Travel Information
      • Hotels in Tunisia
      • Cost of Living
      • Tunisia’s Language
      • Tunisia’s Weather
      • Tunisia’s Currency
      • Tunisia’s Visa
    • Transport in Tunisia
      • Traveling Around
      • Local Transport
      • Flights to Tunisia
      • Ferries to Tunisia
      • Tunisia Overland
    • Things to Do
      • Leisure
  • Local History
    • Museums
    • Monuments
    • Heritage Sites
    • Historical Figures
  • Education
  • Tech & Startups
  • Editors’ Picks
Editors' PicksEnvironment

For a Cleaner and Greener Tunisia, Compost!6 min read

By Contributing Editor November 12, 2021
Written by Contributing Editor November 12, 2021
Composting in Tunisia

Goodbye organic garbage, Hello compost!

What are the solutions to the waste problems in Tunisia? Are compost bins make a good alternative? In the relatively small country of Tunisia, garbage is a big problem. 

Garbage is a major issue in Tunisia. A large portion of the trash that we discard does not undergo any sorting before it is loaded onto trucks and hauled to landfills. In addition to using up valuable energy and creating pollution and gridlock on city streets, truck trips to landfills also waste valuable landfill space that could be put to better use. To deal with the problem of waste accumulation, one option is to separate it at the source.

Suggested Read: Wild Edible Plants Traditionally Collected & Used in Tunisia

Composting in Tunisia

Over the past few years, an increasing number of composters are getting installed in private homes in Tunis. Some other composting projects launched by a few municipalities and organizations across the country, however, the concept remains unknown for most ordinary people.

A composter is a container for organic waste, such as scraps of fruits and vegetables and other organic matter, which accounts close to 40% of household waste. This organic matter decomposes in the composter and can be used as fertilizer in gardens as it helps create nutrient-rich soil.

Composting Benefits

Composting, what's called the Black Gold.
Composting, what’s called the Black Gold.

Soil Conditioner

Composting is a great way to enrich the soil in your garden and lawn. Plants benefit from this, as it provides nutrients and helps to retain moisture in the soil. The term “black gold” isn’t a misnomer. Adding compost to your garden is the single most important supplement you can give it.

Recycles Kitchen and Yard Waste

Composting has the possibility to save households up to 40% of their garbage disposal costs. The lack of air in a landfill inhibits the decomposition of organic matter, which is why this is so important. As it decomposes, methane gas is released into the atmosphere, accelerating global warming and climate change.

Introduces Beneficial Organisms to the Soil

Soil aeration, plant nutrition, and disease prevention are all aided by the microscopic organisms found in compost.

Good for the Environment

Composting can be used as a natural fertilizer for lawns and garden beds instead of chemical fertilizers.

Reduces Landfill Waste

Landfills in Tunisia are rapidly filling up, and many have already been forced to close their doors. Compostable waste accounts for one-third of landfill waste. Our landfills will last longer if we divert this waste from the landfill (and so will our wild spaces).

Getting Involved: What to Compost

Some organic matter that can be used in composting.
Some organic matter that can be used in composting.

Depending on the type of composter you have, there are some general rules about what you can and can’t put in your compost. To varying degrees, all compostable materials are made up of carbon and/or nitrogen. The key to a healthy compost pile is to keep these two components in balance with one another.

Carbon

There are a variety of carbon-rich materials (such as shredded brown paper bags; shredded coffee filters; coffee grounds; conifer needles; eggshell; straw; peat moss; wood ash) that give compost its fluffy texture.

Carbon is the primary component of a compost pile, while nitrogen is a secondary component.

Nitrogen

Enzymes can be made from nitrogen- or protein-rich matter, such as manure, food scraps, green lawn clippings, kitchen waste, and green leaves.

Carbon is the primary component of a compost pile, while nitrogen is a secondary component. As a general rule of thumb, use one-third green and two-thirds brown material. The brown materials’ bulkiness allows oxygen to permeate and nourish the organisms that live there, allowing them to thrive. An anaerobic mass is formed when nitrogen levels are too high. When nitrogen-rich material is exposed to open air, it can release odors, so good composting hygiene means covering it with carbon-rich material. Carbon-rich material often emits a fresh, wonderful smell. If you’re unsure, increase the carbon content!

Getting Involved: How to Compost

Getting Involved: How to Compost
  1. A compost pile can be started on bare ground. Your garden beds will be enriched by worms and other beneficial organisms as a result of this process.
  2. Lay a few inches of twigs or straw in the ground before moving on to the next layer. Drainage and aeration are aided by this.
  3. Compost materials should be added in layers, alternating between wet and dry, to keep the soil evenly moist. Tea bags and seaweed are examples of moist ingredients. Straw, leaves, sawdust pellets, and wood ashes are examples of dry materials. Wood ashes should be sprinkled in thin layers to avoid clumping together and slowing down the decomposition process.
  4. Add manure, green manure (clover, buckwheat, wheatgrass, grass clippings), or any source of nitrogen to your garden. The compost pile is activated and the process speeds up as a result.
  5. Keep the compost moist. Let the rain take care of it, or use a sprinkler if necessary.
  6. It doesn’t matter what kind of material you use, as long as it’s sturdy. Composters need moisture and heat to thrive, so it’s important to keep compost covered. Covering the compost also prevents rain from over-watering it. Ideally, the compost should be moist but not soaked or soggy.
  7. Turn. Turn the pile with a pitchfork or shovel every few weeks. This helps to aerate the sludge. Turning “adds” oxygen to the process, which is necessary for it to work. Straw or other coarse material can be substituted for this step if you have access to it. Add new materials to your compost pile by sprinkling them in rather than layering them on top of each other. Mixing or turning the compost pile is essential to aerating and speeding up the process of decomposition. Rotating compost tumblers are an option if you don’t want to build your own compost pile, but rather prefer to buy a composter.

Suggested Read: The National Arbor Day in Tunisia ðŸŒ³

If you would like to comment on this article or anything else you have seen on Carthage Magazine, leave a comment below or head over to our Facebook page. You may also message us via this page.

And if you liked this article, sign up for the monthly features newsletter. A handpicked selection of stories from Carthage Magazine, delivered to your inbox.

0 comment
5
FacebookTwitterEmail
Contributing Editor

Contributing Editor account at Carthage Magazine. Tunisia's premier English general-interest Magazine with thousands of page-views per month and over 200,000 social media followers.

previous post
Flouci Revolutionizes the Tunisian Banking Industry with Remote Client Identification
next post
The National Arbor Day in Tunisia 🌳

Related Articles

Tunisian Mloukhiya, Your Grandma’s Favorite Dish (& Likely...

April 2, 2025

Tunisia’s Favorite Pastry: Kaak Warka — A Taste...

March 26, 2025

The Best Authentic Tunisian Rice Dish — “Rouz...

March 26, 2025

Why Cold Really Does Feel Colder in Tunisia

March 19, 2025

10 Very Tunisian Proverbs to Live By

March 19, 2025

9 Things to Know about Ramadan in Tunisia

February 24, 2025

Olive Oil: Tunisia’s Gift to the World

January 21, 2025

Tunisia’s Push for Renewable Energy: Progress and Challenges

January 13, 2025

Exploring Tunisia’s 62 Islands: Hidden Treasures in the...

September 30, 2024

What if Carthage Won the Punic Wars?

September 16, 2024

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Flavors of Tunisia

Taste-Tunisia-Tunisian-Cuisine-3

Want more top stories?

Carthage Magazine Newsletter

Sign up today and you’ll get our latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.

Just For You

  • 1

    The Tunisia Land Aid Convoy Reaches Libya, Thousands Join

    June 10, 2025
  • 2

    Alcohol in Tunisia: What Visitors Need to Know

    August 2, 2021
  • 3

    Fruits From Tunisia: 15 Tunisian Fruits to Eat When Traveling

    August 20, 2023
  • 4

    Tunisia Land Convoy Heads to Gaza in Effort to Break the Siege

    June 9, 2025
  • 5

    Top 3 Largest Colosseums Around the World

    October 4, 2024

Latest

  • Egypt Refuses Entry to Tunisian Convoy Participants Heading to Gaza

  • Tunisian Diaspora Transfers Exceed $1 Billion by End of May 2025

  • The Tunisia Land Aid Convoy Reaches Libya, Thousands Join

  • Tunisia Land Convoy Heads to Gaza in Effort to Break the Siege

Sections

  • Editors' Picks
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Food & Drinks
  • Local History
  • News
  • No Sugarcoating
  • People
  • Quizzes
  • Style & Travel
  • Tech & Startups
  • Things to Do
  • Videos

Eá™­á‘­á’ªOá–‡E

Carthage Magazine

We’re on a mission to create content that inspires people about experiences, places, products and people in Tunisia!

 

— About Us

— Adverstising

— Transparency

— Contact Us

Facebook Twitter Instagram Linkedin Youtube

ᗯᗩᑎT ᗰOᖇE TOᑭ ᔕTOᖇIEᔕ?

Carthage Magazine Newsletter

Sign up today and you’ll get our latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.

ᔕᑭᖇEᗩᗪ TᕼE ᗯOᖇᗪ

Spread the word

Our goal is to get these stories out in the public arena, and by doing this, keep promoting Tunisia and changing attitudes towards the MENA region.

 

— Ambassadors

— Readers Write

— What You Can Do to Help

EᗪITOᖇᔕ’ ᑭIᑕKᔕ

  • Tunisian Mloukhiya, Your Grandma’s Favorite Dish (& Likely Yours, Too!)

    April 2, 2025
  • Tunisia’s Favorite Pastry: Kaak Warka — A Taste of Heaven

    March 26, 2025
  • The Best Authentic Tunisian Rice Dish — “Rouz Jerbi”

    March 26, 2025

© 2019 - 2025 Carthage Magazine. Privacy Policy

Carthage Magazine
  • Home
  • News
  • Food & Drinks
    • Taste Tunisia
  • People
    • Interviews
    • No Sugarcoating
    • Environment
  • Style & Travel
    • Attractions
    • Trip Planning
      • Travel Information
      • Hotels in Tunisia
      • Cost of Living
      • Tunisia’s Language
      • Tunisia’s Weather
      • Tunisia’s Currency
      • Tunisia’s Visa
    • Transport in Tunisia
      • Traveling Around
      • Local Transport
      • Flights to Tunisia
      • Ferries to Tunisia
      • Tunisia Overland
    • Things to Do
      • Leisure
  • Local History
    • Museums
    • Monuments
    • Heritage Sites
    • Historical Figures
  • Education
  • Tech & Startups
  • Editors’ Picks
Carthage Magazine
  • Home
  • News
  • Food & Drinks
    • Taste Tunisia
  • People
    • Interviews
    • No Sugarcoating
    • Environment
  • Style & Travel
    • Attractions
    • Trip Planning
      • Travel Information
      • Hotels in Tunisia
      • Cost of Living
      • Tunisia’s Language
      • Tunisia’s Weather
      • Tunisia’s Currency
      • Tunisia’s Visa
    • Transport in Tunisia
      • Traveling Around
      • Local Transport
      • Flights to Tunisia
      • Ferries to Tunisia
      • Tunisia Overland
    • Things to Do
      • Leisure
  • Local History
    • Museums
    • Monuments
    • Heritage Sites
    • Historical Figures
  • Education
  • Tech & Startups
  • Editors’ Picks
© 2019 - 2025 Carthage Magazine. Privacy Policy

Read alsox

Tunisia’s Octopus Salad: The Best Tunisian Seafood...

September 11, 2023

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tunisia

August 5, 2019

5 Types of Tunisian Men on Dating...

August 27, 2020