Useful doesn’t have to be ordinary.
The soil in your garden is coming to life after the winter and you may be thinking about planting. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have organic compost on hand?
I know that organic compost is good for the soil in my garden and pots. Reducing my trips to the trash is good and fewer smelly organic materials in my garbage is good. Flimsy green plastic bags on my kitchen counter awaiting apple peels and carrot tops? Not good. The solution is small, chic, dishwasher-safe bins that can sit on your kitchen counter and collect the food and vegetable scraps and coffee grounds – and are easy to carry to your garden compost. Here are some attractive options.
Down-to-Earth Compost Bin. This small, sleek bin sits in your kitchen and collects compostable scraps for days. It seals in odors. It comes in two colors – Eucalyptus and Peppercorn. It is 10”L x 7.5”W x 7.7”H and has 1.5-gallon capacity. The body and handle are dishwasher safe, and you can easily wash the lid by hand. The bin is 100% recyclable and made of Polypropylene, recycled seashells, silicone, and TPR. Food52 Down-to Earth Compost Bin. $49.
Bamboo Compost Bin. This small, biodegradable bamboo bin is described as post-industrial bamboo fiber, melamine which means melamine made with bamboo fibers.
It has a breathable lid with an odor-blocking filter. 7″ L x 6.25″ W x 9″ H. Volume is approximately 18.5 cups, a little over one gallon. Four colors: natural, graphite, terracotta, and navy. Dishwasher safe. $52.50.
This easy-clean polypropylene composter has a flip-top lid and a stainless-steel handle and is designed to hold compostable waste bags – which makes it easy to take food waste from your kitchen to your garden. It is designed to circulate fresh air through replaceable filters. It is 6.75”h x 9”w x 7.75″d and has a one-gallon capacity. Stack4 Compost Bin, $30, $24 for members of the Museum of Modern Art.
100% compostable waste bags for recycling food waste. Fifty, one-gallon bags, are designed to fit the Stack4 Compost Bin. $15, $12 for members of the Museum of Modern Art.
These countertop compost bins are crafted from salvaged walnut. They have a lid and a removable stainless steel inner pan which is dishwasher safe. Three colors: white, gray, and walnut.
They come in two sizes: Family is 13″ L x 7.5″ W x 6″ H with a 6.1-quart capacity, and Petite is 7.5″L x 7.5″W x 6″H, with a 2.7-quart capacity. Countertop Walnut Wood Compost Bins – $160, $204.75.
The modern compact compost bins come in two colors: Nordic white and Nordic green. They are 6.90″ D at widest point x 7.20″ H, with a 9-cup capacity. Dishwasher safe. Made in Holland. Rosti Modern Compact Compost Bin, $24.
Once you have collected your kitchen scraps – here is your guide to composting. Your plants, the earth, and your garbage can will thank you. Food52 Composting Guide
Vitamix has a brilliant (and expensive) FoodCycler that pulverizes and aerates most food waste and turns it into nutrient-rich fertilizer in five hours. It has a carbon filter to eliminate odors. I am always tempted by tools that make life easier. FoodCycler, $324.95.
See an earlier article on compost and compost bins:
