The Best Compost Bins to Upcycle Your Food Waste

Best Overall

Lomi Composter

View On Amazon $379 View On Wayfair $454 View On Lomi.com

When we first heard about the Lomi, we were more than a touch skeptical. How could a countertop appliance convert food scraps into dirt in just a few hours, when the backyard compost pile takes months? And we can even put meat and biodegradable plastics inside? Yes, even the plastic bag the Lomi comes in can be made into dirt inside the bin (which was manufactured in a climate-neutral fashion in a Certified B Corp China factory).

The Lomi works by accelerating the composting process, using both physical and biochemical methods for decomposing. It has three preset programs: Eco-Express, Lomi Approved and Grow Mode. Eco-Express works the fastest (three to five hours) but kills the most microorganisms because of its high heat. We were shocked by how quickly table scraps were turned into dry dirt, almost flakey in nature. Lomi Approved mode breaks down bioplastics and packaging in five to eight hours. Grow Mode takes the longest at 16 to 20 hours, but what you lose in time, you gain in microorganisms. The slower process using less heat is required to keep those beneficial organisms alive to create nutrient-rich fertilizer for your garden. 

Using less than 1kWh of electricity on any cycle (just 0.6kWh in Eco-Express mode), the Lomi is not expensive to run, and its charcoal filters help keep odors neutralized. There was a bit of an odor when it ran, but it was pleasant—similar to the smell of vegetables cooking. At any cycle, 3 liters of food waste was reduced to just a couple cups of dirt. Though we have yet to see how well the dirt works in the vegetable garden, the Lomi was incredible and satisfying to use. It’s perfect for those who don’t have space for a compost pile, and it definitely reduces waste. With a 14-day free trial period, your barrier to countertop compost entry is just the high cost.

At nearly 20 pounds and 16 inches wide, it’s a bit large if counter space is an issue in your kitchen. Still, it has a sleek and modern design and can live on your countertop if you have the space.

Material: Recyclable plastic exterior, metal interior | Dimensions: 13 x 16 x 12 inches | Weight: 19.8 pounds | Capacity: 3 liters  

Runner-Up, Best Overall

Utopia Kitchen Stainless Steel Compost Bin

View On Amazon $26 View On Walmart $40

While you can use just about any old container to collect scraps, your bin can start to stink if you aren’t diligent about emptying it. The Utopia Kitchen Compost Bin features a charcoal filter, which needs to be soaked in warm, soapy water, rinsed, and air-dried in the sun weekly for optimal odor control and eventually replaced when worn (a spare is included). Be sure to wipe it down every once in a while, too, to get rid of fingerprint smudges. In the absence of smelly compost, there's no need to hide your bin away, making it convenient to use and more likely to become a full-time part of your kitchen routine (though admittedly it does take up a bit of counter space).

In a two-person household that goes through copious amounts of fruits, vegetables, and coffee grounds, we found that it took about one week before the 1.3-gallon bin was full. A bigger family may need to empty once every few days, adding to a larger outdoor compost pile or allowing the contents of the pail to run their course before using the small yield for plant soil.

Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 14 x 8 x 9 inches | Capacity: 1.3 gallons

Best Budget

OXO Easy-Clean Compost Bin

View On Amazon $32 View On Webstaurantstore.com View On Macy's $33

Oxo brings its ubiquitous function to the world of compost with a locking bin that comes in several colorways and is meant to hold just a few days’ worth of food scraps. We tested the smaller 0.75-gallon version ourselves, though Oxo also has a larger 1.75-gallon option if you need more space.

The locking mechanism is the main feature here, as it’s designed to keep the odors locked in. The drawback is that there’s no aeration for the compost, but this isn’t meant for long-term storage. Another nice design element is the smooth, rounded plastic walls, which make cleanup easier. Corners and hard edges are places for food debris to get stuck, and Oxo has eliminated those for a wipe and rinse cleanup process.

While we found we could've used a little more room and perhaps a more attractive aesthetic, the Oxo Good Grips Compost Bin checked all of the remaining boxes: It's affordable, user-friendly, super easy to clean, and effective at keeping odors and pests at bay.

Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 7.75 x 7.3 x 7.6 inches | Capacity: 1.75 gallons

Best Design

Bamboozle Stationary Composter

View On Amazon $39 View On Wayfair $50 View On Walmart $40

Most compost bins put function first and might not be something you want to display front and center in your kitchen. Bamboozle tackles this head-on with a bin that uses a wood-grain bamboo handle and graphite-colored bamboo container that looks modern and at home on a 21st century kitchen counter—even if it’s filled with waste. And while you’re using it, you can rely on its charcoal filter to keep odors away. It may be on the pricier side, but the attractive design and odor-control make it well worth the buy-in.

Material: Bamboo | Dimensions: 9.5 x 8 x 8 inches | Capacity: 1.2 gallons

Best Food Recycler

Vitamix FoodCycler FC-50

View On Amazon $400 View On Wayfair $400 View On Sur La Table $400

A food recycler is another option if you’re looking for a countertop composter. Using heat and a grinder, this machine electrically processes waste into a reduced mixture that can be added to a worm bin or outdoor composter. It’s particularly useful for food scraps that are slow to decompose in traditional worm bins or compost piles or items that are prone to odors or attracting pests, like meat and dairy products. 

We found this machine easy to operate and a simple thing to incorporate into a daily or weekly routine. On Instagram Stories, Eva Chen, author and director of fashion partnerships at Instagram, called it one of the "top 10 most satisfying things" she owns. Keep in mind that since the machine uses heat as part of the processing, there may be a slight odor while the unit is operating. Most people describe it as just the smell of cooked food and don’t find it particularly offensive.

Once the cycle is over, the finished product is fine enough to add to your garden as is or put into a composter for further processing. This is a pricey option compared to typical indoor compost bins, but it eliminates concerns over a compost bin that sits for an extended period of time with food scraps inside that may cause odors or attract flies and rodents. Keep in mind that given its electrical nature, the FoodCycler does require a dedicated plug while in use.

Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 12.6 x x 11 x 14.2 inches | Capacity: 2.5 liters

Best With Compost Bags

Full Circle Breeze Fresh Air Kitchen Compost Collector

View On Amazon $34 View On Walmart $40 View On The Container Store $35

Full Circle sidesteps the cleanup question with an innovative design that eliminates the need for cleaning your bin by employing compostable bags to collect the waste. Just line the 1.5-gallon bin with a bag, fill it, and then dump the entire bag into your outdoor composter.

The perforated lid and vented base allow air to flow through, which helps the composting process begin the way it’s supposed to. The large capacity means you don’t have to empty the bin as often as other, smaller kitchen compost collectors. Full Circle also considers the planet in its manufacturing, aiming to make their product repairable and parts easily replaceable.

Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 11 inches | Capacity: 1.5 gallons

Best Outdoor

FCMP Outdoor Dual Chamber Tumbling Composter

View On Amazon $80 View On Wayfair $83 View On Walmart $80

Put food scraps to good use by turning them into nutrient-rich compost for flower beds or in the garden. While a pile in the yard is sufficient, it does attract flies and animals, and will produce an unpleasant smell. Set this medium-sized composter in a sunny spot, add food scraps and yard clippings to one chamber, turn the barrel every couple of days, and in a few short weeks, the compost will be ready. The dual chambers allow for one side to be filled while the other side cures. The sides of the barrel have deep grooves to make spinning the drum easy even when it's full. The tumbling motion aerates the compost, helping speed up the natural process.

Best of all, this composter is affordable and made of UV-resistant post-consumer recycled material, ensuring that it doesn’t warp or crack in the sun. Just leave yourself a generous amount of time to insert the 50 screws needed for assembly. It’s also a good idea to have an extra set of hands to help attach the drum to the base.

Material: Polypropylene, galvanized steel | Dimensions: 28 x 30 x 36 inches | Capacity: 37 gallons

Best for Small Spaces

Uncommon Goods Living Composter

View On Uncommon Goods $199

If you want to collect compost in an uncommon way, check out the Uncommon Goods Living Composter, which combines a funky design with compost-eating worms for a self-contained solution that’s small enough to sit on your countertop. It processes enough waste for one to three people.

Simply drop food scraps in the top of the unit and let the worms (not included) do the rest. This is a great solution for small households that don’t generate a ton of waste or have outdoor space for bulk-composting outside.

Material: Recycled plastic | Dimensions: 17.7 x 8.7 x 6.5 inches | Weight: 3.4 pounds

Best Worm

VermiHut Plus 5-Tray Worm Composter

View On Amazon $105 View On Walmart $110

Worms are a beneficial way to compost at home in that they do the work of breaking down food scraps instead of the microorganisms that do it in a traditional outdoor composting scenario. One advantage of using worms is that it’s a one-step process: You throw scraps in with the worms and they do the rest.

“I would suggest, for conventional apartment dwellers, a worm bin," says Marisa DeDominicis, the co-founder and executive director of Earth Matters NY. "It can fit under your bed—if you’re not queasy—or under the sink or in a closet. Make sure there is ventilation in the space you choose, and the bin should have ventilation holes, as well.”

Worms can also be appealing for kids who are generally much more interested in worms than invisible microorganisms. The VermiHut is high-capacity, able to process up to 5 pounds a day when running at full steam.

Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 17 x 17 x 33 inches | Weight: 13 pounds