The Best Compost Bins to Cut Down on Kitchen Waste
Convert your kitchen scraps into something good for the environment.
Composting takes kitchen scraps that would normally end up in the garbage and turns them into nutrients for the soil. It's a great way to help preserve the environment, but you might be wondering how to make it work in your own household. Here, we've compiled some of the best compost bins to make this eco-friendly habit easier to build and incorporate into your daily routine. To learn more about composting, check out our guide How to Compost Like a Pro.
The 7 Best Compost Bins
1. Riverstone 65 Gal. Outdoor Tumbler Composter
Composting is not normally a speedy process, but you can get things moving a little faster with this tumbling composter in your yard. It features a patent-pending ratchet lock with a rotating handle for easy mixing. With a 65-gallon capacity, you can transform a lot of kitchen waste into food for your garden faster than other compost bins on the market.
Scraps of kitchen garbage may not look too attractive when they're breaking down, but you'd never know it thanks to this stylish composter from Dustin. This stainless steel container looks more like a high-end ice bucket than something that's working hard to preserve the environment. The handle makes it easy to tote outside to your garden. The double filtration system keeps odors at bay for up to six months, plus it's dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
No more hiding your compost bin in the far corner of the yard. This 158-gallon composter from Tierra Garden is as attractive as it is practical. Though it looks like wood, it's actually made from Thermolen, a UV-resistant and weatherproof material, so it's built to last. This compost bin is easy to fill with your food scraps thanks to two lids that swing open wide, and the compost can be removed from either side.
New to composting? This attractive white container makes it easy to start and maintain this environmentally friendly habit. It can sit right on your counter and hold onto eggshells, coffee grinds, food scraps, and much more to create nutrient-rich soil for your garden. Not only will composting save you money by not having to buy fertilizer, but you'll also avoid the chemicals that are often part of store-bought garden enhancers. Odors are eliminated by two charcoal filters and a carbon steel construction that won't rust or stain.
This wooden bin with its attractive finish might look like a patio side table, but it's really hard at work creating nutrient-rich soil. The slats provide plenty of aeration while keeping the compost from spilling out, plus it's weatherproof and waterproof, so you can feel good about leaving this anywhere in your yard.
If you want to cut down on waste but are hesitant as to how you're going to preserve those kitchen scraps, this adorable bin from Exaco will convince you to compost. This one-gallon bucket made from plastic and metal will easily fit into any kitchen setting. But don't confuse its good looks for a lack of function – it's got a secure cover that keeps a lid on odors while also keeping out insects, rodents, and even algae growth.
If you're serious about the environment and your smoothie or juice routine, check out this Vitamix FoodCycler. It packs a lot of composting power in just one cubic foot of space. Plug it in, fill it up with food scraps – including fruit cores and vegetable peels – and it converts kitchen waste into fertilizer for your lawn and garden. Just like your daily dose of vitamin-rich juices and smoothies, you won't know how you did it without the Vitamix FoodCycler.
Whether you choose a small compost bin for your kitchen or go all-in on a multi-gallon container for your yard, you can easily incorporate this eco-friendly habit into your household routine with our selection of the best compost bins.
Written by Barbara Bellesi Zito
