The Best Things To Compost For 2023

Sandra Espinet By, Sandra Espinet
Updated
simplehuman 4 Liter / 1.06 Gallon Compost Caddy
Image credit: Amazon.com

Summary

1. Best Overall: simplehuman 4 Liter / 1.06 Gallon Compost Caddy

Storing compost waste is easy and efficient with our odor-reducing stainless steel compost bins. It attaches to a magnetic base that hangs on your rectangular or narrow-sided bin, or you can detach it for use on your kitchen counter. Read Review

2. Best For Price: Now Designs Vintage Compost Bin

Keep your kitchen sharp while developing eco-friendly habits with this vintage compost bin from Now Designs. A compost pot is an easy way to make eco-friendly changes in your home. Read Review

3. Best Quality: RSI Riverstone Industries Maze Two Stage Tumbler Composter

Over time, the MAZE two-stage compost drum is designed to produce as much compost as possible. Moreover, it has a constructed galvanized metal frame to prevent rust and a high-impact UV-protected plastic body. Read Review

4. Best Efficient: IM4000 Dual Chamber Tumbling Composter

This unique tumble composter features two chambers - one side fills and the other side hardens, making it easy and efficient to convert your kitchen and garden waste into rich soil-improving compost. Read Review

Composting is an easy way to eliminate your yard's excess plant materials, so you don't have to continuously buy soil for new plants or spend time removing them from your yard. When you compost, you break down these excess materials into something useful. Plant nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, are released back into the soil, and you no longer have to add them manually. 
A few things in your yard that can be used as compost fodder, such as grass clippings, leaves, and garden waste, are great additions to the pile. Those scraps are even better if your garden produces abundant fruits and vegetables. 

Before making our recommendations, our specialists spend substantial time researching and analyzing your requirements. Then we found the simplehuman 4 Liter / 1.06 Gallon Compost Caddy is the most excellent choice for its high-quality performance. If you're looking for another one, consider the Now Designs Vintage Compost Bin. We also show the other fantastic alternatives with a complete guide so that you can choose the best things to compost.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 simplehuman 4 Liter / 1.06 Gallon Compost Caddy
Our Score:
9.8
Simplehuman

This product has soft-seal lids allow food scraps to breathe, control odors and keep pests out. The plastic inner box is removable for easy disposal of waste or cleaning.

In addition, the caddy's stainless steel finish is protected by an invisible anti-fingerprint coating that also reinforces Agion®. This EPA-registered antimicrobial inhibits the growth of bacteria, fungus, mold, and mildew. 

TOP Choice #2 Now Designs Vintage Compost Bin
Our Score:
9.6
Now Designs

Sleek and functional, this retro-inspired compost bin is a charming accessory to place on your kitchen countertop. Moreover, a replaceable activated carbon filter in the lid controls odors for safe viewing within easy reach. At the same time, a convenient carrying handle makes it easy to take organic waste outside to add to your compost pile.

 

The patent-pending built-in ratchet lock and rotating gear handle make turning and mixing compost material easier than other composters on the market. The large open area under the composter is easy to empty.

Furthermore, transporting your freshly made compost is simple, clean, and easy with the optional compost cart that can be mounted under the composter. 

4 IM4000 Dual Chamber Tumbling Composter
Our Score:
9.3
FCMP Outdoor

This product is easy to use; just load it in, close the sliding door and flip it over every few days using the handy built-in handle, and watch it produce finished compost in a few weeks.
Besides, the drum design makes mixing simple and efficient. Close the door and turn it 5-6 times every 2-3 days. In hot, sunny conditions, compost can be ready in as little as two weeks if the ingredients are correctly balanced.
 

The HOTFROG Double Tumbling Composter is a hybrid of two of our most popular models of tumbling composters. The drum design makes mixing simple and efficient. Just close the door and turn it 5-6 times every 2-3 days.

Moreover, two separate sides allow finishing the first side while leaving the second side available for adding fresh scraps/clippings. They are constantly switching sides when done, ensuring an uninterrupted flow of rich, healthy compost.  

6 iTouchless Stainless Steel Compost Bin
Our Score:
8.9
ITouchless

This product makes your countertops easy to empty and clean with no leaks and a special coating to prevent rust. The stainless steel cover and body are fingerprint resistant.

Moreover, the lid has a built-in AbsorbX odor filter compartment to absorb odors. It also has a compact size that is perfect for kitchen countertops.

7 Dual Chamber Compost Tumbler
Our Score:
8.8
Miracle-Gro

Achieve your gardening goals with a steady supply of ready-to-use compost! This 2-chamber compost cup lets you add compost ingredients to one side while waiting for the other to set. In addition, with the internal mixing stick that speeds up the decomposition process, you can have rich, productive compost in as little as 4-6 weeks!
 

  • First panel for preserving mature compost while the 2nd chamber for new waste and scraps. Two separate panels will allow proper rotation of composting process to produce enriched compost.
  • Its space-saving and space-efficient design makes it a perfect compost/tumbler in any given space. Maximum capacity of 42 gallons and assembled size of 28. 50" X 26" X 36. 80"
  • Perfect for Urban Spaces and Small Properties
  • Fully Enclosed Composter Design Eliminates Odors and Keeps Animals Out
10 Oggi Countertop Compost Bin
Our Score:
8.5
Oggi
  • FRESH: Removeable charcoal filter in lid absorbs odor keeping composting bin smelling fresh
  • Item shape: cylindrical
Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

What Should You Know Before Selecting best things to compost?

Our website is an online source that provides clients with a diverse selection of best things to compost. Many items on the site perfectly suit the demands of clients and serve their intended function.

So, how can you determine which of the best things to compost is the best fit for your needs? Don't be concerned! This article will walk you through all you need to know about the best things to compost before you buy it.

 

Material

Many compost bins can be made from plastic, metal or wood. Most commercially-available composters are made of dark-colored, recycled plastic. These bins can absorb heat and prevent moisture loss. Most DIY compost bins can be made from wood, metal or stone. Remember that outdoor compost bins should be weather-resistant and blend in with the landscape.

Odor Control

To see whether any bin could hide the worst smells, we put all that was compostable in each one. However, it turned out the second day to be a disaster. The smells became less evocative when we did a second round without using any animal products (except eggshells). However, the bins with vents performed the best.

Size

A compost bin must be able to sit on or under the sink in order to work well within a kitchen. We didn't try anything smaller than one-half a gallon or larger than five gallons. All of the picks are suitable for countertop use or under sinks.

Shape

You can choose from a variety of shapes for your compost bin. The style and size of the composter that you choose will determine what shape your bins are. Square or rectangular bins will fit into tight corners if you have limited space.

Conventional Vs. Worm Composting

You will need to choose whether you prefer to compost using the traditional composting process or vermicomposting. Each method will make rich compost that you can use for your garden. However, it all depends on how much space you have and your lifestyle.

Capacity

Compost bins are not necessarily bigger. Small bins can hold 1-10 gallons while medium and large containers are able to store 11-30 gallons. Large bins have 31 gallons or greater. It is unlikely that a small container will be sufficient to hold a lot of yard waste. For aeration, and the distribution of material, compost must be turned. Larger bins can make this more difficult. The larger the bin the more time the pile must be "cooking," in order to become compost.

Cleanliness

A compost bin should be simple to clean, as no one likes to get their hands in the rot. Although all of our bins were easy to clean we did find some that were more difficult than others. Although many bins come with removable liner, this doesn't make them any less convenient to clean. You can use recycled paper bags to line your containers.

Location

Stationary outdoor compost can be placed in either the sun or shade, depending on the speed you need for the process. Sunlight helps to increase temperature so bacteria and fungi can work more quickly. You can move smaller containers or tumblers to the desired location in your yard and home.

 

FAQs

Do I Have To Make My Own Compost Bin?

It's easy to make a DIY compost bin. You can also build whatever type of bin you like. It all comes down to whether you are willing to spend the effort and maintain a clean kitchen. You can make it with anything from a plastic bucket to a drain using the bokashi method. The latter is covered in great detail by Planet Natural.

Is There A Better Place To Put A Compost Container?

Your compost bin's storage is crucial for your system to succeed. You may stop scrap collecting if you keep it out of sight and make it a burden for your family. It may be difficult to keep a smelly, smelly trash bin in the center of your kitchen.
Your kitchen and bin size also matter. Larger bins like worm composting options may be too big to store on countertops. Smaller kitchens might not be able to save space, no matter how small the bin.

What Can I Put In My Compost Bin?

You won't want any animal byproducts or liquids (especially dairy), bones, shells and fats out of your anaerobic compost production process. Everything else from your kitchen can be used. Balance (between dry and wet, acidic or basic) is the key to composting if you are doing it yourself.

What Should You Put In Your Compost Bin?

The bulk of scrap collection is made up of vegetable and fruit scraps. It is important to read the instructions for the specific compost bin you are using and what the recommended compost systems are. Worm composters do not recommend that you consume too many citrus fruits, coffee or other foods, as these can cause soil to become too acidic. Vitamix FoodCycler F-50 (view at Amazon). It can also break down nuts, eggsshells, bones and other ingredients. However, the company discourages the use of too many sweet fruits as these can cause the machine to caramelize or bind as it heats up and grinds.

How Can I Keep My Compost Bin Clean And Make Good Compost?

It is about maintaining good compost by balancing dry and wet material with an alkaline and acidic material. You'll need to pay attention if your compost pile is outdoors. However, bokashi bins are a good option.
Add some organic paper or dried leaves to your compost if it becomes too moist. You can add some liquid bokashi brn or wetter material to help it dry out. If it smells like vinegar or volatile organic compounds, it is too acidic. To neutralize this, add dried leaves to the mix.

How Often Should I Rotate My Compost Piles?

It is possible to turn your compost too frequently. To speed up the process of composting, it is best to rotate your compost bin or compost pile every two weeks.

How Do Compost Bins Need To Be Maintained?

If you take care of your kitchen compost bins properly, they can last a lifetime. After emptying the bins, wash them in the dishwasher or by hand. You will need to ensure that you have liners for any bin you purchase, as some require them. You can use tools to determine the soil's pH and temperature, as well as the moisture level.

How Can I Keep Pests Away From My Home?

Keep your compost bin and home clean to avoid pests. It is important to remove your compost every day.
A compost bin for anaerobic fermentation is self-contained. Pests won't be able to get in if it's not sealed tightly. You can keep a bin that has vents for aerobic composting in the freezer.

Conclusion

In short, you have just been shown all the things related to best things to compost, including the top models, buyer’s guides, and the comparison between products as well. At this moment, it’s obvious that you acquire the mentioned information and are ready to pick one among the list of best things to compost above. In case there is no model that suits your needs, then Mantis CT02001 Compact ComposTumbler will be the best to pay attention to. Hopefully, our sharing today will help you choose the best item for your requirement. 


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About Sandra Espinet

Sandra Espinet
Sandra Espinet is an editor and freelance writer who loves nothing more than helping others polish their work to perfection. She has a keen eye for detail and a passion for home decorating, which she enjoys sharing with her readers. When she's not editing or writing, Sandra can be found spending time with her family or exploring the great outdoors.

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