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. 

Check out all the eco-friendly products that AIRNEX has on Amazon. 

8 Eco-Friendly Kitchen Product Swaps For A Healthy Home

 The kitchen can be a huge source of where our trash collection comes from. A few simple swaps in the products that you use in the kitchen can make a big difference for the environment.

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We live in a single-use throw-away society and we have a lot of trash to show for it. We use a lot of items one time and then toss them into the trash can. Once a week we can bag up our trash and put it on the curb. Then a big truck takes it away and it magically disappears.

Have you ever thought for a moment, about what happens to all the trash that we throw away? Where does the trash go? Most people know that a garbage truck takes the trash to a landfill but they have no clue about the effects of the trash on our environment.

Americans throw out 4.9 pounds of trash per person every day and this trash is a huge cause of global warming pollution. Roughly 42% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are created in the process of extracting resources, producing goods, disposing of waste, and transporting materials at every stage of that process.

Our household trash also contributes to air pollution and water contamination. This ugly trash also has an effect on the ocean and our natural resources. For the average household, if you are not using disposable diapers, most of the trash is created from the kitchen.

Kitchen Product Swaps For Less Trash

If most of our trash comes from the kitchen, then this is the place to start for product swaps. Switching out single-use products for ones that can be used many times is a good thing for the environment. For products that we prefer to use once, we can buy products that can be tossed into a compost pile. Keep reading to discover some products that are better for the environment. 

When you choose to swap out a single-use product for one of these environmentally friendly products, you will be making a difference for our planet. You will be rewarded for your efforts when you put less trash into curbside trash containers. If you can eliminate one bag of trash a week that equals 52 bags of trash a year.

1. Reusable Water Bottle

Way too many people are buying bottles of water from the grocery store and that is a huge source of kitchen trash. People think that bottled water is better for them, where most of the time the water is coming from another state's water tap. The sad reality is that these expensive bottles of water are loaded with plastic. So plastic may be leaching into the water that you are drinking, especially if that water is stored in a hot place like the car or garage.

 So reduce your trash accumulation by using a reusable water bottle. If you are concerned about plastic leaching into your water, consider a stainless steel water bottle. A water bottle that is made from steel will also keep your water cold for a longer time. The average person uses 156 plastic bottles of water per year, so a reusable water bottle will save a lot of trash.

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2. Compostable Cups

 If you entertain a lot, you are probably tossing plenty of single-use plastic party cups or worse yet styrofoam cups. A significant portion of plastic that ends up in landfills is from disposable cups. 

 The smart choice for entertaining would be using reusable cups that you can wash for the next party. If you don't want to wash cups after a party replace your throwaway party cups with ones that decompose naturally in any environment.

 Better for All compostable, lightweight cups are perfect for all your parties. These cups can hold both cold and hot drinks. Better for All cups are made from a unique material called PHBH, designed to completely biodegrade in almost any environment. The cups are TUV-certified home compostable and BPI-certified compostable, ensuring they will completely biodegrade in a home compost pile. You can even toss these cups into your city compost container. The cups are also reusable and dishwasher-safe so you can use them for your next party.

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3. Rezip Bags

 If you pack a lunch or take snacks on the go, you are probably using a lot of plastic bags. Count how many bags you are using per day per person and then calculate how many baggies are being tossed into the trash. 

 Now is the time to switch to Rezip reusable food storage bags These BPA-Free, Food Grade, Leakproof, Freezer, and Dishwasher Safe bags can be used for all your lunch and snack needs, from packing a sandwich to bringing crackers for the kids while on the go, these bags are awesome. You will love that they store flat and come in many sizes and shapes. These reusable bags can also be used for traveling and so much more.

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4. Matter Compostable Food Storage Bags

If you are not ready to make the switch to reusable plastic bags, consider swapping your single-use plastic bags for one that is compostable. We all love the convenience of single-use products, but we need to consider the impact they have on our world.

Matter Compostable Food Storage Bags are made from plants and natural fibers. I love that the bags are gluten-free. So you’re using items made from nature that will return to nature. The bags are certified for industrial composting, so you can toss them into your compost pile once you are done with them. If you are into freezing garden surplus, these food storage bags are perfect for your veggies.

All Matter products fully break down in a composting environment, either industrial or home. Composting is a safe and natural way to reduce landfill waste. As Matter products compost, they return valuable nutrients back into the soil, vs. potential toxins that traditional plastics can leave behind.

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5. Reusable Beeswax Wrap

 Plastic wrap and foil can be single-use items that we toss into our kitchen trash can. Think of all the leftovers that we wrap up every day. Reusable Beeswax Wrap is the smart eco-friendly way to wrap up your food.

These reusable food covers are made from cotton and beeswax. They are so easy to use and they can be washed many times. The Beeswax Wrap comes in fun prints and can be used for many items. The wrap can tightly cover any bowl or plate making them great for leftovers. The food wraps can also be used to wrap up a sandwich for your lunch or use them to cover up an avocado half for later use. I love using the Beeswax wraps when transporting food to a potluck.

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6. Reusable Paper Towels

Paper towels are another item that we use daily and toss into our trash can. Stop and think about all the money that you are spending on rolls of paper towels. How many rolls of paper towels are being added to the landfill a year?

 A super easy way to eliminate paper towels from your home is by purchasing Reusable Paper Towels. These strong organic cotton towels can be used for all your paper towel needs. Just use them to wipe up kitchen messes and then toss the towel into the laundry. The soft cloth towels can also be used for other kitchen things like dishcloths, dish towels, and even dinner napkins. The towels come in a pack of twenty so there are plenty to use for all your cleaning needs. Buy 2 packs of reusable paper towels and have a set for cleaning up the bathrooms.

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7. SoapStandle Bar Soap Gripper

 Replace your bottle of hand soap with a bar of soap. Switching to bar soap can significantly cut down on plastic usage and trash. A typical liquid soap bottle weighs 60 grams and, with about 10 bottles used annually, that's 600 grams of plastic waste each year.

Washing your hands with soap is easy and a bar of soap tends to last longer if you give the soap air circulation. The SoapStandle is a soap-saver innovation that extends the soap’s lifespan by elevating it for better air circulation, ensuring faster drying and less goo, thus reducing waste. This soap gripper is so easy to use and it also prevents the soap from sliding out of your hand. This unique product works with all bars of soap and is made from post-consumer recycled plastic, supporting eco-conscious initiatives. 

I featured the SoapStandle in my 8 Eco-Friendly Products For Your Bathroom article. Check out this article for ways to cut back on trash from your bathroom. You will be surprised at how many single-use items you are using in the bathroom. 

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8. Daily Good Trash Bags 

Now that you are looking for ways to decrease the trash in your kitchen, you need to use a trash bag that is better for the environment. 

Daily Good Trash Bags are made with up to 97% certified post-consumer recycled plastic. These eco-friendly trash bags are strong and durable so they will hold plenty of trash. The bags are dry-tested to hold up to 90 pounds of trash and they stretch to fit most kitchen trash cans. The materials used to make Dailygood Bags are third-party certified, which means they meet the highest standards in recycled material quality, purity, and consistency. 

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Do good for the environment and switch out single-use products for ones that are eco-friendly.

If you want to make a change, you have to check out these eco-friendly kitchen product swaps. Just one simple swap can add up to a huge thing and less trash. Which product will you start with?