By admin
So you want to reduce your food waste? You’ve come to the right place. We’ll get you paired with the best composter for your space and lifestyle. A composter can help you divert nutrient-rich food scraps from landfills, reduce your carbon footprint, and enrich your garden and community in the process. Now, before we get into the good stuff, here’s the 411 on the composting process—and how to filter through the best compost bins to find one that’s ideal for you.
As an aside, we know that fighting climate change has almost nothing to do with personal responsibility. It’s going to take radical transformation from governments, fossil-fueled companies, and lobbyists. But there are always small things you can do to create a more sustainably minded home and community if you have the means. Basically what we’re saying is, try your best, pester your state and local representatives, and be kind to your neighbors.
What is composting?
Composting is a process that turns food scraps like carrot tops, moldy strawberries, eggshells, and lettuce heads into nutrient-rich dirt and fertilizer for gardening and houseplant maintenance. According to the USDA, in the United States an estimated 30 to 40% of the food supply is wasted. Composting some of what you don’t use is an easy way to fight your individual waste.
Basically, microorganisms, worms, or a combination of heat and oxygen turn your leftovers into soil over time. By purchasing a compost bin and investing a little more time into your food prep routine, you can greatly reduce the amount of food waste you produce. What’s more, you can often drop off your food scraps or finished compost to a local community garden if you don’t have a use for it. So not only are you committing to sustainability but community care too.
“Composting is a whole system, and everyone needs to figure out what works for them,” Rick Carr, farm director at the Rodale Institute, previously told SELF. “A lot of people are focused on getting the end product, but the reality is that you have to make a decision to put more effort into recycling on a regular basis.” For more advice about composting and how to get started, read our composting guide.
What should you look for when buying a compost bin?
When it comes to finding the best composter, first you have to narrow down your options. There are a few different kinds, each with different benefits:
Indoor Compost Bins
Countertop compost bins or machines like the Lomi and Vitamix FoodCycler are ideal for small apartments or homes without outdoor space. By having a compost bin in your kitchen, you can keep it close by during food prep and may be more inclined to toss your food scraps there instead of in the trash can. What’s more, the manual labor for indoor composters is less, as you won’t need a pitchfork or shovel to “turn” your scraps every day. Worm compost bins are also used indoors and are pretty hands-off once you set them up. They produce finished compost quickly, using less energy than electric composting machines.
Countertop and kitchen compost bins should have some kind of odor-blocking technology (usually in the form of carbon filters) so that your space doesn’t smell like rotting food scraps. They should also be easy to clean with minimal nooks and crannies, and some are dishwasher safe too. You’ll often need biodegradable bags to line the composters.
Outdoor Compost Bins
There are also outdoor compost bins like wire bins and tumblers, which are typically larger than their indoor counterparts. If you have outdoor space, use it! You won’t have to deal with potential odors or pesky fruit flies that sometimes come around.
When shopping for an outdoor composter, you’ll want something heavy-duty that can be sealed from the outside world to ward critters (or pets) away. Tumblers involve less labor than bins—and they take less time to produce finished soil, while bins get more ventilation to help break down scraps. Similar to indoor composters, outdoor options should be easy to clean and make it easy to remove your compost.
Below, we broke down (wink) 17 of the best composter options for you to peruse. Some of the compost bins are intended for small spaces, others are ideal for large yards. You’ll also find the SELF-approved Lomi composter, which literally does all the dirty work for you. You’re on your way to nutrient-rich soil and a lot less food waste—cheers!
All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
-
Pinterest
Lomi1 Indoor Composters: Pela Earth Lomi Kitchen Composter
We penned an ode to the Lomi smart composter—that’s how much we love it. The machine breaks down your food scraps using heat, abrasion, and oxygen. “Similar to how worms and microbes break down organics into soil, the Lomi turns your waste into smaller, soil-like fragments without the smell, mess, or worms,” we wrote. It has three compost modes that range in duration, from three hours all the way to 24 hours. If that seems like a long time, know that some outdoor compost bins take an entire year to break down your food. What’s more, the Lomi machine can break down items that most other compost bins can’t, like dairy, meat, soft bones, and bioplastics. It’s ideal for beginners or folks who have no interest in the upkeep that some compost bins require.
$500$450 at Lomi$500 at Amazon -
Pinterest
Food522 Indoor Composters: Bamboozle Bamboo Compost Bin
We’ve recommended this cute countertop compost bin before, citing its compact size and that it doesn’t look much like a compost bin. It has a vented lid and a carbon filter, and it’s both dishwasher and freezer-safe. This composter is made out of biodegradable bamboo fiber, so it’ll last a long time and, once it is time for you both to part ways, it has a low environmental impact.
$50 at Food 52
Most Popular
- 5 Less Obvious Signs of Seasonal Depression You Should Definitely Pay Attention To
By Maggie O’Neill
- 42 Creative Valentine’s Day Gifts for Guys
By Sarah Madaus
- Just Some Fun Sex Toys You and Your Partner Will Love
By Gabrielle Kassel
-
Pinterest
Amazon3 Indoor Composters: EPICA Stainless Steel Compost Bin
Here’s a stainless steel pail that fits nicely on any countertop. Its simple shape lends itself to easy cleaning, and it has a spot for a replaceable carbon filter, plus vents that allow oxygen to help break down your kitchen scraps.
$30 at Amazon
-
Pinterest
Amazon4 Indoor Composters: Oxo Good Grips Easy Clean Compost Bin
With more than 13,500 five-star reviews, Oxo Good Grips’ kitchen compost bin is an affordable pick for anyone just starting out on their composting journey. It’s the ideal size for a small apartment. Its design holds compostable bags inside for a cleaner look, and the lid comes off for easy emptying.
$33 at Amazon
-
Pinterest
Williams Sonoma5 Indoor Composters: Vitamix FoodCycler
Another do-it-all compost machine, the Vitamix FoodCycler takes up only one square foot of counter space. (When it’s unplugged, though, you can stash it anywhere.) Similar to the Lomi, this machine grinds up and decomposes more kinds of food than most composters, and it can be mixed into your garden soil for fertilizer. Plus the internal bucket is dishwasher-friendly, and the machine comes with carbon filters to nix any garbage-y smells.
$400 at Williams Sonoma
Most Popular
- 5 Less Obvious Signs of Seasonal Depression You Should Definitely Pay Attention To
By Maggie O’Neill
- 42 Creative Valentine’s Day Gifts for Guys
By Sarah Madaus
- Just Some Fun Sex Toys You and Your Partner Will Love
By Gabrielle Kassel
-
Pinterest
Food526 Indoor Composters: Food52 Five Two Down-to-Earth Compost Bin
This sleek compost bin is—dare we say—pretty? It’s a bit bigger than other countertop bins, with 1.5-gallon capacity. That means you can go a few more days in between runs to the compost drop-off, or use less freezer space for your broken down foods while you wait for drop-off day. There’s no need for a bag or filter in this bin either, as the sealed lid was engineered to mask any odors.
$49 at Food52
-
Pinterest
Amazon7 Indoor Composters: Simplehuman 4 Liter Compost Caddy
If you have a Simplehuman trash can, this compost bin has a handy magnetic attachment to the side to give you a little more counter space. The inner bucket fits compostable liners and has a soft-seal lid that allows you to toss in fruit fly bait like banana peels without worry.
$50 at Amazon
-
Pinterest
Package Free8 Indoor Composters: Package Free Compost Bin Container
If you have a commitment to sustainability that goes beyond buying reusable products, you probably want to know about the ethics of the company you’re buying from. Though this countertop compost bin seems like many others on this list, it comes from Package Free, a business that has an entirely zero-plastic and minimal waste operation and only sells zero-waste products. (You can read more about Package Free here.) This stainless steel bin comes with a cotton and charcoal filter to kick odor, and it’s a great zero-waste alternative to plastic composters.
$24 at Package Free
Most Popular
- 5 Less Obvious Signs of Seasonal Depression You Should Definitely Pay Attention To
By Maggie O’Neill
- 42 Creative Valentine’s Day Gifts for Guys
By Sarah Madaus
- Just Some Fun Sex Toys You and Your Partner Will Love
By Gabrielle Kassel
-
Pinterest
Amazon9 Indoor Composters: Joseph Joseph 30016 Intelligent Waste Compost Bin
Here’s another top-rated kitchen compost bin that has a ventilation-first design to reduce odors and increase the amount of oxygen flowing into the bin. It has space for replaceable filters too, plus a sturdy stainless steel handle.
$30$24 at Amazon -
Pinterest
Home Depot10 Indoor Composters: Tumbleweed Can-O-Worms Compost Worm Farm Starter Kit
So you want to try vermicomposting (a.k.a. worm composting), huh? To do it, you have to bring worms into your home. Specifically red wigglers, which don’t wiggle around and won’t escape. All worm composters come with instructions to help you set them up, so don’t fret. This kind of composting is hands-off and doesn’t use a lot of electricity like the Lomi or Vitamix. Just know that worms are a bit pickier than other composters, and they don’t have a large capacity.
$114 at Home Depot
-
Pinterest
Amazon11 Indoor Composters: Worm Factory 360 Black US Made Composting System
This worm composter can house thousands of worms at a time. Unsettling? Maybe. But that means your food scraps will be broken down before you know it—with almost zero energy output. If you’re a composting pro, this is a great option, as it’s the largest vermicomposter we found.
$132 at Amazon
Most Popular
- 5 Less Obvious Signs of Seasonal Depression You Should Definitely Pay Attention To
By Maggie O’Neill
- 42 Creative Valentine’s Day Gifts for Guys
By Sarah Madaus
- Just Some Fun Sex Toys You and Your Partner Will Love
By Gabrielle Kassel
-
Pinterest
Amazon12 Outdoor Composters: Ejwox Large Composting Tumbler
Outdoor tumbling compost bins are easier to manage than bins because instead of using a rake or shovel to manually “turn” the compost each day, you just need to rotate the tumbler. This circulates air into the compost and speeds up the breakdown process. This one, in particular, has two chambers: Fill up one while the other side finishes the composting process, and then empty it and begin the cycle again. You’ll notice that most outdoor composters are black with vents, which helps them retain heat and circulate air.
$140$98 at Amazon -
Pinterest
Amazon13 Outdoor Composters: Enviro World Compost Bin With Base
This highly rated composter has an 82-gallon capacity, and it’s made entirely out of recycled materials. What’s more, the opening has a wide mouth and it’s situated at the bottom of the bin, which makes it easier to shovel in your organics.
$159$139 at Home Depot -
Pinterest
Home Depot14 Outdoor Composters: Algreen Composter Soil Saver Classic
If you have a small balcony or fire escape that you’d like to use for composting, this outdoor option has a 28-pound capacity, which is larger than many indoor composters, but not too big that it requires a huge backyard. Honestly, it looks like a tiny (and relatively terrifying) house, and it protects from pests and harsh weather like one too.
$107 at Home Depot
Most Popular
- 5 Less Obvious Signs of Seasonal Depression You Should Definitely Pay Attention To
By Maggie O’Neill
- 42 Creative Valentine’s Day Gifts for Guys
By Sarah Madaus
- Just Some Fun Sex Toys You and Your Partner Will Love
By Gabrielle Kassel
-
Pinterest
Amazon15 Outdoor Composters: FCMP Outdoor IM4000 Dual Chamber Tumbling Composter
Here’s a big old tumbler that’s ideal for big families and community gardens. It has a dual chamber system so you can always be adding new compost in while one side finishes. If you balance the ingredients that go in and turn it five to six times every few days, you can have finished compost in two weeks.
$100$81 at Amazon -
Pinterest
Amazon16 Outdoor Composters: Miracle-Gro Small Composter
Here’s an 18.5-gallon outdoor tumbler from the gardening gurus at Miracle-Gro. It has a sturdy lock on the opening to keep bugs and animals away, and it’s made from plastic that won’t emit toxins when exposed to strong UV rays. It’s also fitted with internal mixing bars and a rotating mechanism shortens the time it takes to produce finished compost, and it’s on “stilts” which provides easy access to your compost (and saves your back too).
$80 at Amazon
-
Pinterest
Amazon17 Outdoor Composters: Bosmere Wire Compost Bin
Rick Carr, farm director at the Rodale Institute, previously recommended chicken wire bins like this one to house your compost pile, because they offer plenty of aeration. Like we said before, getting oxygen mixed in with organic material helps it break down more quickly. What’s more, a clear (or wire) container for compost helps you see what’s going on–and if there are any issues with your compost, like too much moisture (which breeds bacteria), pests, or accidental bits of plastic.
$98 at Amazon
