Subpod Large Pet Poop Composter

It is best to install the Subpod pet poo composter in an ornamental plant bed or lawn. Keep it away from the vegetable garden to be extra safe, to ensure that no human pathogens can enter your edible garden.

Absolutely!! In fact, adding some food scraps into the mix will increase the microbial diversity of the finished product.

Just ensure that you do not use the finished pet poo compost on edible crops. Use this black gold to fertilise ornamental plants.

Yes! Being underground is what makes Subpod different from other compost systems. The soil provides insulation and a way for worms and microbes to explore your garden and feed your plants.

Above ground compost systems struggle to keep worms and microbes comfortable, and even alive, in summer and winter – but underground they're safe and happy (which is the secret to good compost).

Yes you can although you must ensure that only compostable pet litter is used and avoid adding too much litter that has urine soaked into it as this will upset your worms.

Many council dog parks are successfully using Subpods to handle dog poop. Folks dump their bags straight in and yes, the system can handle it.
However, for home use we recommend using a pooper scooper and avoid bags if possible. If you have a bag of dog poop after a walk or just don't like using pooper scoopers then please be aware:
1. You must use bags that are HOME compostable.
2. The bags can get caught up in the aerator.
3. Your compost will take longer to break down and depending on the quality of bag you use, you may end up with tiny pieces of plastic that need to be sifted out of the finished compost before you use it to fertilise your decorative plants.

You can compost a much bigger variety of materials in Subpod than in other worm farm systems! See the full list below:

FOOD WASTE
Most food waste can be composted in Subpod without worry. Fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells (crush them first), coffee grounds, used tea leaves, spoiled plant-based milks, grains, pastas, breads, nuts (and their shells), seeds, pits, husks and so on. Small amounts of meat, seafood, dairy foods, citrus, onion and garlic may also be added. Subpod can also process spicy herbs, peppers and oils but it’s best to introduce these slowly in small amounts at first, and only once your worms are fully established (after around three months).

PAPER & CARD
Most scrap paper and cardboard can be added to Subpod, as long as it’s not laminated or super glossy. Again, the smaller the pieces, the better. Junk mail, office paper, bills, envelopes (no plastic windows), post-it notes. Paper plates, tissues, egg cartons, paper cupcake liners, baking paper, even card and paper packaging is fine.

NATURAL FIBRES
Cotton wool balls and pads, tampons, toilet paper cores and even natural latex condoms and gloves can go into Subpod. Old clothing, face washers, napkins, tablecloths and very old towels can be used as long as they are made from natural fibres like cotton, tencel, linen, hemp or wool (no polyester, nylon, acrylic or blends) – just shred them into small pieces first. Washer and dryer lint is okay too, as long as it comes only from clothing made from natural fibres.

WOOD AND BAMBOO
Sawdust (no paint) is great. Toothpicks, disposable wood, bamboo and bioplastic cutlery and crockery can be composted, along with dead matches, bamboo skewers, garden prunings (cut 'em up small), and charcoal from the fireplace – as long as you wash off the ash which is too alkaline for Subpod.

HUMAN AND ANIMAL WASTE
Human hair and nail trimmings, used facial tissue, used cotton bandages and sanitary items can all be composted in Subpod, as long as they are made from 100% natural fibres. Pet hair of all kinds is fine, along with soiled newspaper and hay cage liners and faeces from vegetarian pets and livestock (rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, cows and horses). Dog and cat faeces are NOT suitable for Subpod if you’re eating the plants growing around it. But fine if you want to have a separate one for this purpose.

NOT COMPOSTABLE
You cannot compost non-organics such as plastic, tin cans, cigarettes, building waste, toxic waste, glass, or any other similar materials in Subpod.

Yes! Subpod is a vermi-composting system, which means it relies on compost worms to break down your pet waste. Without compost worms, Subpod can't do its job.

We recommend buying worms for your Subpod locally if possible, but you can also find them online. Most Bunnings stores stock worms and worm eggs.

Jump on to our growhub community and see if there’s a local Subpodder that will give you some worms. Make a friend and score some worms at the same time!

• When you add your pet poop and carbon material to the Subpod, you'll need to mix them through using an aerator. This takes less than a minute each time you feed the worms.
• If the soil surrounding Subpod settles and starts to reveal the Subpod wormholes (beneath the airflow panels), more soil (and mulch) needs to be added to cover the holes.
• Otherwise, just keep feeding your worms and keep the blanket moist when you are adding more poop.

Yes! Subpod Classic (the large one) can be installed directly into the ground. Subpod Mini needs to be in a raised bed.

Subpods work the same planted directly in the ground as they do in a raised bed, however we find that raised beds are just much easier to access and use your Subpod.

Set up your Poop Subpod in a shady location so it doesn’t overheat in the summer. 

If your dogs are prone to producing dry poop, consider keeping a small bucket near the Subpod with some water in it to drop the poop into and tip this into the Subpod after a few hours or when you get to it.

When the system is close to full (it will take 6 months on average for one large dog’s worth or 2 smaller ones) wait a week or two without feeding and empty the upper half into the garden around ornamental shrubs or around any kind of tree - ornamental or fruit or nut bearing is safe.  You can use the aerator to harvest the compost.   Remaining worms in the system will quickly breed up to manage the resumed poop feedings.  

Optional: to maximize the worms kept in the Subpod during harvest, consider making a slurry of white flour and water the consistency of pancake batter.  Use a stick to push back the compost from the 4 corners to create wells reaching to the bottom on the Subpod and pour the batter into these holes.  Wait 2 to 3 days and just harvest the upper half of the compost. 

Keep an eye on the consistency - if the compost is looking dry, mix in some water.  If it is looking wet or sludgy, add a dry carbon that has some fiber - wood shavings or coconut coir are best for bringing air back into the compost. Crushed dried leaves that have been on the ground for at least 3 months are another choice.  This brings in plenty of air which is healthy for the worms and favors conditions for aerobic microbes which keeps smells at bay.

When the system is close to full (it will take 6 months on average for one large dog’s worth or 2 smaller ones) wait a week or two without feeding and empty the upper half into the garden around ornamental shrubs or around any kind of tree - ornamental or fruit or nut bearing is safe.  You can use the aerator to harvest the compost.   Remaining worms in the system will quickly breed up to manage the resumed poop feedings.