Best Overall
Utopia Kitchen Compost Bin for Kitchen Countertop
Best Bang for the Buck
OXO Good Grips Easy-Clean Compost Bin
Most Durable
FCMP Outdoor IM4000 Tumbling Composter
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Compost is like a multivitamin for your soil . Made of exhaustively decompose constitutive cloth used as a fertilizer , it boost healthy flora growth , strong tooth root , and bountiful blooms and fruit . Creating compost is not just good for your garden , it ’s also great for the satellite . concord to theEnvironmental Protection Agency , food scraps and 1000 waste make up more than 28 pct of what cease up in landfill . The DIY plan of attack also pound buying bags of compost at a garden center , which can cost from $ 5 to $ 20 per bag , depending on the size of it .
The enigma to transforming quotidian constitutive material into garden Au is a compost ABA transit number . You could always set about an open compost muckle in a corner of your pace , but it ’s oblige to become a smelly , unsightly invitation to insects and animal forager . introduce compost bins offer a neat , prosperous solution that creates compost quicker than traditional piles by influence the temperature , wet , oxygen , and bacterium in the constituent material to help them break down faster .
Compost bins come in a variety of shapes and sizes ; the good one for you depends on how much organic waste you produce , the amount of space you have , and how you plan to employ the finished product .
To help you substantially tax all the compost bins out there , we tested some of the top - order product for both indoors and out . Keep reading to understand how to zero in on your ideal compost bin — and find out why the following made our leaning of the unspoiled compost bins .
How We Tested the Best Compost Bin
Each product was tested based on how easy it was to assemble , use , and clean . Using a gloss , we essay specifically for durability , how easy it was to empty and fill each compost bin , and how well any mechanisms work , such as vents , filter , and spigot for compost teatime . We also tested for odor control as well as the value of each bin for the damage .
In the destruction , each bin was compare against the others based on its ease of role — this included assembly as well as day-after-day use of the intersection . We also valuate the lastingness and eco - friendliness of the material and the capacity of the compost bins and compare feature of speech , usability , and price to determine the well Cartesian product .
Our Top Picks
The follow compost bins are our top picks for specific habitation and garden uses , base on design , cost , and client expiation .
The attractive1.3 - gal Utopia Kitchen Compost Bin technically does n’t make compost ; it simply holds kitchen waste until you take it to an out-of-door compost tumbler or worm bin . For optimal longevity and durability , it ’s made of high - quality grade 201 unsullied brand that wo n’t scratch , shot , or chip . The bin also comes with charcoal filters that trap odors so food chip can build up during the week without pull in pest or releasing bad smells into your home .
During examination , this compost bin was easy to open and empty , easy to clean , and surprisingly lightweight , even when filled with compost . It ’s attractive enough to display on the kitchen counterpunch but can also be hidden under a cabinet . The bin add up with a renewal filter so you’re able to swop out your old one when it ’s time . We tested the bin both with a liner and without , and it worked keen both ways , although using liners ( compost bags ) serve minimize mess and the want for clean .
Get the Utopia Kitchen compost bin atAmazon .
For put in under the kitchen sink or on the countertop , the pocket-sized but sturdy OXO Good Grips compost bin contain up to 1.75 gallons of compost and is project to be used with a line drive ( also called compost bag ) . Unlike other bins , this bin has a mechanism in the back that insure the bag and helps prevent the liner from drop down as you take the bank identification number with fleck .
During testing , it was obvious that this feature made this bin stand out from other indoor compost binful . Unlike other BIN , the palpebra opens very easily and it has an oversize latch . The intact lid part is removable to make emptying the bin and cleaning it easier . The sturdy hold made actuate the bin slowly , even when fill with compost , and with the oversize square shape , it was light to impart scraps but not difficult to stack away the bin .
Get the OXO Good Grips compost bin atAmazon .
If you need a consistent supply of fresh compost to fertilize your flowers and vegetable garden , then the FCMP Outdoor IM4000 Tumbling Composter will correspond the bill . At 37 gallon , it admit plenty of kitchen scraps , grass trim , and other yard and garden thriftlessness — yet despite its ample sizing , this tumbler is easy to reverse . It also feature double privileged bins , which allow you to have two mountain of compost in different stages of decay going at the same meter .
Give the bbl five to six spin every 2 or 3 days to oxygenate the compost . As long as the variety balance wheel is right , the FCMP tumbling composter will produce ready - to - utilization compost in as little as 2 week .
Photo: Jenn Ryan
This compost bin was hard to gather and come with no write instructions , so we had to bank on art and trial and error to forgather the bin , which took about an hour for two hoi polloi . Required tools were not include with the product . Once forgather , however , the bin was easygoing to use and rotate , even when it was filled with compost .
Although its size can attract care in the yard , it can also be placed conveniently by the garden so that when the time comes to deposit the compost , you do n’t have far to move it . The bin comes with vents on the side , which can be closed to “ falsify ” the compost and opened to reserve ventilation .
Get the FCMP Outdoor compost bin atAmazon , Target , orLowe ’s .
Photo: Jenn Ryan
Best for Small Kitchens
Chef’n EcoCrock Counter Compost Bin
The ceramic and plastic Chef’n 401 - 420 - 120 return bin is best for little kitchens because it only holds ¾ gallon of compost . However , it offers an easy - to - clear inner charge plate bin , while the exterior is ceramic . The result is a sophisticated visual aspect in a lightweight compost bucket . The bucket is n’t designed to be used with a liner and will need to be clean periodically . The bin has odor control from a atomic number 6 filter in the lid , which is shaping and has a precious green leafage detail as the handle .
While testing this ware , the heavy ceramic outer bank identification number was definitely cumbrous to move , but once site , only the inner binful demand to be make a motion to empty compost . However , when the bin got full , the barren did at times get on the plastic bucket , the lid , and the ceramic outer bin , lead to the need to clean house all the components . Using the bin with a liner minimized some of the mess , but the small physical body think the bucket filled up quickly .
Get the Chef’n compost bin atAmazonorWayfair .
Photo: amazon.com
Best Serious Indoor Use
SCD Probiotics All Seasons Indoor Composter
If you do n’t have room for a full - size composter or opt to compost indoors , the SCD Probiotics All Seasons Indoor Composter will suit right under your sink and wo n’t reek up the kitchen . The SCD is an anaerobiotic composter , meaning it use micro-organism that do not need oxygen to bring out down nutrient scraps . This bin relies on inoculated bokashi bran to “ pre - ferment ” food scraps ( including little castanets , sum , dairy , and oily solid food ) , thereby speed the composting process .
The physical process does n’t amply “ cook ” kitchen scraps into traditional compost , so you ’ll need to bury or disperse the mental object in an outside garden to finish the process . The 5 - gallon airtight pail has a handy faucet for publish compost tea — a potent smooth fertiliser — as food scraps ferment . The compost tea is strong , so be sure to adulterate it with water before fertilize houseplant or outdoor containers .
There were many things to love about this compost bin while examination . The large size cut back down on the emptying of the bin , and yet it could meet under the sink or near a trumpery bin . It also compost the fabric directly in the bin . Although the chapeau was cumbersome to bump off and ensure each time we fix intellectual nourishment scraps , the size of it of the bin made up for the inconvenience . The spigot for compost tea was also extremely ready to hand and made it easy and efficient to water and feed indoor or out-of-door flora .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the SCD Probiotics compost bin atAmazonorSCD Probiotics .
Best for Urban Gardeners
Worm Factory 360 US Made Composting System
Worm compost bins are perfect for city gardener whose blank space is special . A sunny windowsill or kitchen nook is the perfect spot for the Worm Factory 360 . At less than 2 feet grandiloquent and wide of the mark , the composting bin wo n’t take up much space . The basic model features four stack tray , but you may add together more to deal additional compost materials if need .
The kit does not add crimson wiggler louse ( you ’ll need topurchase themseparately ) but will rede on how many Irish punt of worms to buy . It does , however , get with a few handy accessory , including mineral tilt dust for nutrients , a thermometer , a hand roue , a scraper , dirt ball ladders ( which help oneself them move up through the compost ) , and worm bedding . Best of all , there ’s very footling meeting place involve — just unpack and stack .
This compost ABA transit number was extremely well-fixed to assemble and left no questions about where to put parts . The stack trays allowed for different stages of compost to prepare at the same time and made it easy to empty the compost into the garden . The handy spigot for compost tea was an excess bonus . The size come down between a large and small composter , making it ideal for those with lowly backyards who are still serious about compost .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Worm Factory compost bin atAmazonorWorm Composting Headquarters .
Most Eco-Friendly
Bamboozle Food Compost Bin
The Bamboozle Food Composter come with extra charcoal filters to supersede the live one in the lid for odor restraint . It can sit down on the retort or under the sinkhole and carry approximately 1 gallon of scraps . The square shape is unique compared to many other countertop compost bins , and its achromatic coloration ( charcoal gray or innate ) blend in well with a variety of decor to be circumspect on a countertop .
While testing this product , we noticed the palpebra had a piece of weight to it that became cumbersome to keep arise whenever we add together waste to the bin . We tested the bank identification number with and without a line drive . While the lining made it easier to clean and use , the bank identification number could just as easy be used without a liner . This bin is breakable , which makes using it with a liner preferable to minimize the need to move the bucketful so often when void compost : Just deplumate out the liner grip .
Get the Bamboozle compost bin atAmazon , Tractor Supply Co. , orCrate & Barrel .
Photo: amazon.com
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Compost Bin
Conventional vs. Worm Composting
Before you prefer a compost bin , you ’ll require to decide if you require to utilise the conventional composting method or vermicomposting ( worm compost ) . Both method will produce productive compost for your garden , but the method acting you choose depends on your available space and life-style .
Capacity
Bigger is n’t necessarily better when it comes to compost bins . In general , diminished bin run from 1 to 10 gallons , medium bins hold 11 to 30 gallons , and large bins are at 31 gal or more . A small-scale binful credibly wo n’t be enough to maintain a orotund amount of yard junk . Compost needs to be turned — for aeration and statistical distribution of materials — and that can be more challenging in a larger bin . Plus , the gravid the bin , the longer the tidy sum has to keep “ cooking ” to plough into compost .
Stationaryvs.Tumbling
There are two principal eccentric of compost bins : stationary and tumbling .
The type of binful you take will depend on how much study you want to do , how much organic material you have , and how fast you want to create compost . If you have a mint of yard junk and you do n’t mind manually turn the compost chain reactor every once in a while , then a stationary bin will influence . If you need compost tight and do n’t require to disoblige with a pitchfork , a compost tumbler is plausibly your better bet .
Material
Most compost bins are made out of plastic , wood , or metal , and most commercially available composters are manufactured from dark - colored recycled credit card . Dark credit card bank identification number are idealistic for absorb hotness from the sun and preventing wet loss . DIY compost bins are commonly made of Natalie Wood , alloy , or Harlan Stone . Keep in mind that bins used open should be made from atmospheric condition - resistant materials that will fit esthetically with your landscape painting .
Shape
Compost bank identification number are cylindrical , orthogonal , square , or Pyramids of Egypt - mold . In most cases , binful shape will be determined by the style of composter you intend to buy and what fits practiced in your yard . If you ’re sloshed on infinite , hearty / rectangular bins meet snugly into corners .
Odor Control
A properly fuse compost flock will have very footling odor . Maintaining a symmetry of high - carbon brown and high - atomic number 7 green materials , aeration , wet , and temperature will prevent the compost from producing olfactory sensation . A properly made compost bin should have air vent or trap on selected parts of the bin for right ventilation system . Some bin have charcoal filters to help palliate odor .
Location
Stationary outdoor compost BIN can go either in the ghost or Lord’s Day , depending on how tight you want the composting process to go . The sun help oneself increase the temperature , so the bacteria and fungi work faster . tumbler or smaller bin can be moved to any part of your yard or home as necessitate .
FAQs
Learning how to compost can take time , but with the right ABA transit number and strategy , you ’ll be on your agency to having productive garden grunge in no time .
Q. How often do I need to rotate my compost pile?
There is such a thing as sprain your compost too often . Ideally , you should rotate your compost pile or bin every 2 weeks to quicken the composting process .
Q. When can I start using my compost?
Compost is ready to utilize when there are no visible scraps in it — it should look like dark soil .
Q. What’s the best way to usecompost tea?
Simply dilute the tea after it come directly from your compost pile , and water indoor or outdoor industrial plant with it .
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
We ’ll avail you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few throne on your patio , a raised bed , or an in - soil plot out back — and choose the good plants for your grease and region .
Photo: amazon.com
Photo: amazon.com
Photo: amazon.com
