Top 5 Kitchen Compost Bins For Food Scraps

 Composting or recycling food scraps is a great way to reduce trash going into landfills. A few simple items are all you need to get started.

To start, you need to purchase a kitchen countertop compost bin for food scraps. Then you need to decide where to put the food scraps once the compost bin is full. If you have a garden, then an outdoor compost pile is ideal. If your city offers a municipal compost drop-off, that is also a good choice.

 Another idea for composting your kitchen food scraps is to ask a neighbor if they would like the food scraps for their backyard compost pile. If your neighbor says yes, make sure to ask them about what food scraps are best for their compost container and which food scraps to avoid.

Top 5 Kitchen Compost Bins For Food Scraps

 I started composting several years ago in an old plastic kiddie swimming pool as a way to enrich my soil for my backyard swingset garden. My Southwest soil was mostly clay and not ideal for growing food. Since the Covid disaster had just started, stores had sold out of garden soil. I wanted to start a garden, to grow veggies, and composting food scraps was a way to enrich my soil.

 So I bought a metal kitchen compost bin and instructed my family on what to put in a compost bin. My son was eating lots of eggs, so he tossed all the egg shells into the bin for kitchen food scraps. Other items that went into the bin were coffee grounds and produce scraps. 

Over the years of composting food scraps, I have tried many types of compost buckets for the kitchen countertop. Here are the different types of compost bins I have used.

1. Stainless Steel kitchen compost bin ~ A stainless steel compost container is a 1.3-gallon container with a tight lid. They usually have a carry handle and a place in the lid for a charcoal filter. The benefits of a stainless steel bin are that they are durable and doesn't absorb odors from the food. They can be used with or without a compostable bag.

2. Bamboo kitchen compost bin ~ This type of compost bin is made from plant-based materials and is a more stylish option. The bamboo bin has a lid with a place for charcoal filters. They also do not absorb odors and are easy to clean in the dishwasher. They can be used with or without a compostable bag.

3. Recycled plastic kitchen compost bin ~  This type of compost bin is a breathable system that allows food waste to dry out to reduce the ICK factor of collecting food scraps. Since the sides are ventilated, you must use a compostable bag inside the bin. Most plastic bins are dishwasher safe. If you have mold allergies, this is the best compost bin.

4. Compost Genie floor compost bin ~ This is a larger compost bin for the kitchen. This bin holds a 3.6-gallon compost bag instead of the typical 1.6-gallon compostable bag. This stainless-steel compost bin has a large capacity and is perfect for a family. This container has a place for filters and requires a bag inside it. If you produce a lot of food scraps, this is a good option.

5. Collapsible Compost Bin ~  This 1-gallon countertop compost bin is unique in that it collapses when not in use, for easy storage. It also has a lid made out of wheat straw and a compartment for the charcoal filter. This compost bin also comes with compostable bags and 2 carbon filters.

Must-Have Items For Compost Bins

Once you select the kitchen composter that fits your needs, there are a couple of additional items that you will need to buy. 

~ The first one is charcoal filters for compost buckets. Charcoal filters will absorb odors and keep the bad smells out of your kitchen. Most compost bin charcoal filters are infused with 1.7g of activated carbon. These filters come in many sizes and can be cut to fit inside your compost container. The filters should be replaced every 2 months.

~ Compostable Trash Bags are another must-have item for kitchen composting. These food waste compost bags make it super simple to take the food scraps out to your compost pile. They are also required for municipal compost drop-off sites. 

While some compost buckets don't require a green waste bag, I don't recommend skipping this step. The green compost bag will reduce odors from the food scraps and prevent mold from growing inside the compost bucket. 

My preferred brand of compost bags is AIRNEX, as they are the best priced for 100 bags. Their bags are made out of cornstarch and are certified 100% home compostable. AIRNEX bags fit most kitchen compost bins and are durable, holding up to 15 pounds of waste. Their bags are leakproof and tear-resistant.

What items can be composted?

  ~ Fruit scraps, including peels

  ~ Vegetable trimmings

  ~ Egg shells (crushed)

  ~ Tea bags

  ~ Coffee grounds with filters

  ~ Shredded paper

What not to compost

  ~ Meat, fish, and bones

  ~ Plastics

  ~ Metals

  ~ Fats and oils

  ~ Dairy products

  ~ Pet waste

  ~ Cheese, meat, or other sauces

Ready to start composting kitchen food scraps?

 Composting kitchen food scraps is easy. Once you have your compost bin, place it on the kitchen counter in a place near your food prep. That way, when you cut up your fruits and veggies, you remember to toss them into the compost bin. 

 Once you get the hang of what you can compost, the bin will fill up quickly. I recommend taking the contents of the compost bin outside to your compost pile once a week. That will prevent the food scraps from growing mold or attracting fruit flies. Composting food scraps is good for the environment and beneficial to the soil. 

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