Your First Week with Reencle:
Day-by-Day Expectations

The Unboxing Experience: What to Expect

Congratulations on your new Reencle! The first week is an exciting journey, and we’re here to guide you through it. Let’s set some realistic expectations for what you’ll experience during these first 7 days.

Anticipating the Process: What to Expect in Your First 7 Days

The First Few Days

• Initial Setup: Once you have your Reencle set up it will start the first cycle. This may take up to a couple of hours to start, so don’t worry if it doesn’t begin immediately.
• What’s happening?
  
  Your starter kit comes with all the microorganisms you will need to effectively break down your food waste. During the first cycle these organisms are waking up and breaking down the starter food waste you fed it. This process is essential for effective composting.

Normal Sounds and Smells: What’s Typical During the First Week?

Sounds to Expect

• Normal Noises: Your machine will run quietly in the background. Other than a low hum and the occasional sounds of the compost turning it should not cause disruptive noises.
  
  If you hear loud noises there may be a problem with your Reencle. For example, a repeated beeping will alert you if it has been left open and cannot close itself. These noises are signs that the Reencle is actively working to break down food scraps and turn them into compost.

Smells to Expect

• Earthy and Subtle: You can expect mild, earthy smells as the composting process begins, signaling the healthy decomposition of organic material. This smell like likely not be noticeable when your Reencle is closed.
• What to Avoid: Strong, pungent odors are a sign of imbalance with your compost (e.g., too much moisture, wrong materials). If you notice that a bad smell has started, don’t worry.
  
  There are many things you can do to address an imbalance with your compost. A great place to start is feeding it a more balanced range of food waste. Adding coffee grounds, egg shells, cooked rice, and bread can help the microorganisms resolve the scent issue.

How Your Food Waste Will Transform Over Time

Day 1–3: The Initial Stage

• Food Waste Behavior: Once you add your food waste into your Reencle you will notice it start to break down quickly. It will get much smaller and while you may still see some larger chunks, other pieces will seem to disappear.

Day 4–7: Mid-Week Transformation

• Progressive Breakdown: By Day 4 or 5, your food scraps will have darkened, and the texture will begin to change it could seem more mushy or broken down. You may also notice that the starter mix will show signs of healthy microbial activity, likely appearing more active and less rigid.

When to Worry vs. Celebrate:

Celebrate the Wins

• Volume Reduction: After just a few days, you should notice a significant reduction in the volume of your food scraps, which is a sign of the Reencle doing its job.
• Healthy Starter Mix: The starter mix should appear more active, with a slightly damp texture, and no visible mold or foul odors.

What to Worry About

• Persistent Strong Odors: If there’s an overpowering, sour, or rancid smell, this might be a sign that the mixture is too wet or there’s an imbalance in the food scraps. If you notice issues like this, visit our social media for helpful videos on how to solve these problems.
• Machine Not Running: If the machine stops running or isn’t making its usual sounds, it may need troubleshooting. This could be caused by a jam or other issue and contacting us for support is the best course of action.

Quick Fixes:

• Too Wet?
  
  Add dry materials like shredded newspaper, cardboard, or dry leaves to absorb excess moisture. You can also stop adding food waste for 24 hours and instead run the “dry” and “purify” cycle on your Reencle to reduce the moisture levels.
• Unbalanced?
  
  Adjust the mix by adding more brown materials like leaves and paper if there’s too much food waste.
• Low Airflow?
  
  Check to see if your Reencle is stirring adequately. If not, you might need to reset or check for any blockages.

Celebrating Your Progress and Moving Forward

Your first week of composting is all about observing the process, understanding normal changes, and making minor adjustments.

It is normal to have questions or run into issues like moisture, so don’t be afraid to ask questions!

Keep monitoring, and soon you’ll see nutrient-rich compost ready to enrich your garden.