Image via WikipediaKitchen Composters
Some kitchen models process compost
If outdoor composting isn't an option for you, and the idea of keeping worms in your kitchen (called vermicomposting) isn't appealing (as discussed in our section on digesters), there are other alternatives for indoor composting. The most popular kitchen composter is the NatureMill Plus XE Compost Bin (*Est. $300), a self-contained unit that uses bacteria to break down wastes. This small, electrically powered machine (measuring 20 inches high, 20 inches deep and 12 inches wide) unit can process up to 120 pounds of food waste per month and produces compost every two weeks. Inside are two chambers: an upper chamber in which wastes are mixed, heated and aerated, and a lower section that collects the finished compost. Unlike most composters, the NatureMill Plus can handle meat and dairy foods and even pet waste.
Related SearchesA reviewer on the environmental blog Treehugger.com, who confesses to having "a black thumb and a lazy disposition," found this composter fairly easy to use. The only maintenance required is to add sawdust pellets and baking soda regularly to help build up the colonies of beneficial bacteria. She notes that it gives off a slight humming noise and a mild "mushroomy" odor, but she didn't find either particularly problematic. It does require electricity, but only about 5 kilowatt-hours per month. While most of the consumer sites we checked did not review this model, we found several positive reviews at Amazon.com and Gaiam.com for the pricier NatureMill Pro XE (*Est. $400). Although this model includes a few extra features such as a foot pedal and a security lock, most of the comments about it focused not on these added features but on the unit's overall ease of use, odor control and fast compost production -- facets common to both models. It's up to you whether a foot pedal and a lock are with an extra $100.
A less expensive product for indoor composting is the All Seasons Indoor Composter from SCD Probiotics
(*Est. $75), formerly known as the Happy Farmer Kitchen Composter. This system uses a fermentation process to break down kitchen waste inside a plastic bucket. Food scraps are mixed with soil and a starter containing beneficial microbes. The bucket has a strainer to remove excess moisture and a spigot for draining off the liquid, which can be used to fertilize household plants. The solid material inside the bucket must be removed and buried or added to an outdoor compost pile.
(*Est. $75), formerly known as the Happy Farmer Kitchen Composter. This system uses a fermentation process to break down kitchen waste inside a plastic bucket. Food scraps are mixed with soil and a starter containing beneficial microbes. The bucket has a strainer to remove excess moisture and a spigot for draining off the liquid, which can be used to fertilize household plants. The solid material inside the bucket must be removed and buried or added to an outdoor compost pile.A reader on the Treehugger blog says the All Seasons Indoor Composter is "very easy and doesn't smell at all," but other testers disagree. The Wall Street Journal claims that this system "does a good job neutralizing the odor of rotting food," but that the compost starter itself has a "pungent odor." Consumers on Amazon.com agree that this composter produces some odor, which one describes as a "pickled smell" and another compares to "fermenting molasses." One user warns that it is important to drain the liquid frequently or the odor becomes much worse. Some find the system worth it for its ease of use, while others complain that having to remove the partly digested waste and compost it outdoors is too much trouble.
Compost pails for collecting kitchen scraps
Generally speaking, products such as the NatureMill Plus XE or the All Seasons Indoor Composter are useful primarily for those who cannot do full-scale composting outdoors. However, everyone who composts needs an easy, low-odor method to collect food scraps before carrying them outside to the larger bin or compost pile. Although some composting experts simply use an airtight container stored under the sink to collect food scraps, several specialized compost pails are attractive enough to leave out on your countertop, or have some added convenience features.
The most affordable compost pail we found that earns praise from reviewers is the KC1000 Kitchen Compost Carrier (*Est. $18), which is made by Busch Systems in Canada and is also sold by Gaiam under the name Compost Bucket. This compost carrier is made from green plastic with a minimum of 35 percent recycled content. It holds 5.5 quarts of food scraps. The optional carbon filter (*Est. $8 for three), which fits inside the lid and lasts about three months, helps tame the odor of food wastes. Users posting reviews to the Gaiam.com website find it sturdy, odor-free and easy to carry, though a couple warn of mold buildup and fruit flies if the pail is not emptied frequently. They also note that its small size makes it convenient to store either on the countertop or tucked inside a cabinet. The Wall Street Journal says that the KC1000 does a good job of preventing odors, but that the latch on the lid makes it less convenient to use during food preparation. The KC2000 Kitchen Compost Carrier (*Est. $25)has all the same features as the KC1000 but holds almost twice as much: up to 2.4 gallons of food scraps.
(*Est. $18), which is made by Busch Systems in Canada and is also sold by Gaiam under the name Compost Bucket. This compost carrier is made from green plastic with a minimum of 35 percent recycled content. It holds 5.5 quarts of food scraps. The optional carbon filter (*Est. $8 for three), which fits inside the lid and lasts about three months, helps tame the odor of food wastes. Users posting reviews to the Gaiam.com website find it sturdy, odor-free and easy to carry, though a couple warn of mold buildup and fruit flies if the pail is not emptied frequently. They also note that its small size makes it convenient to store either on the countertop or tucked inside a cabinet. The Wall Street Journal says that the KC1000 does a good job of preventing odors, but that the latch on the lid makes it less convenient to use during food preparation. The KC2000 Kitchen Compost Carrier (*Est. $25)has all the same features as the KC1000 but holds almost twice as much: up to 2.4 gallons of food scraps.Those who want a more attractive compost receptacle might consider the Norpro Ceramic Compost Crock (*Est. $25). This pail, which comes in both red and white, holds up to a gallon of scraps and controls odors with a charcoal filter (*Est. $2) in the lid. Sara Schaefer Muñoz, writing for The Wall Street Journal,calls this container "cute." Users at Gaiam and Amazon.com admire its appearance and odor control. However, we also noticed several user complaints at Amazon.com about its weight, the poorly secured handle and the lack of a snug-fitting lid, which allows fruit flies to invade. A few owners also say that the knob on the top is hard to grip and that the ceramic is hard to keep clean.
(*Est. $25). This pail, which comes in both red and white, holds up to a gallon of scraps and controls odors with a charcoal filter (*Est. $2) in the lid. Sara Schaefer Muñoz, writing for The Wall Street Journal,calls this container "cute." Users at Gaiam and Amazon.com admire its appearance and odor control. However, we also noticed several user complaints at Amazon.com about its weight, the poorly secured handle and the lack of a snug-fitting lid, which allows fruit flies to invade. A few owners also say that the knob on the top is hard to grip and that the ceramic is hard to keep clean.Norpro also makes a lighter stainless-steel version of this compost pail (*Est. $40) that receives excellent reviews from roughly 100 users at Amazon.com. However, owners note that the fruit-fly problem is not entirely eliminated in the stainless-steel version, despite its snug-fitting lid.
