Composting is a vital piece of any household’s sustainability plan. However, unlike many other eco-friendly strategies (such as installing LED lightbulbs or taking shorter showers), composting feels complicated and, well, smelly.
Regardless, food waste is a real problem, and composting provides the key. According to the United Nations, “17% of total global food production is wasted.” In the U.S. alone, people toss out 80 million tons of food annually. Not only is this devastating when you consider rampant food insecurity worldwide, but rotting food waste in landfills contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
Reducing food waste is tough, but composting is part of the solution. A countertop composter might be an excellent fit for those with limited space in and around the home or who worry about fruit flies and stinky kitchens.
While the models differ slightly, a basic countertop compost machine grinds down your food waste in a matter of hours. Users can toss in most common household food waste, including small bones and fruit and veggie scraps. However, read your manual carefully, as many composters can’t handle super-tough items like hardy rinds or pits. You can use the nutrient-rich output as plant food or mix it within your garden soil. Countertop composters are especially sensible for homes where space and climate don’t support a traditional compost pile or bin.
Countertop composting is easy and convenient. Plus, our friends at Treehugger have identified a few compost machine options that won’t break the bank. We’ve dug into the different brands and feel these models are worth checking out.
The Lomi kitchen composter wins “Best in Show.” With thousands of glowing reviews online, you have to believe the Lomi team is doing something right. Their sleek device (which comes in different color options) makes composting effortless and high-tech; you can even connect your Lomi to a smartphone app that tracks your sustainability impact. Lomi works by heating your food waste, grinding it down, and closely monitoring moisture and oxygen. You have a garden-ready product in just four hours! Our only drawback is the price; while you can score great deals around the holidays, the Lomi Classic costs around $329 without the subscription package.
The Vitamix FoodCyler FC-50 has a more basic design than the swanky Lomi, but the Vitamix brand has a strong following for a reason. It’s compact, efficient, and quiet, making this the perfect countertop composter for smaller kitchens. The brand’s carbon filter lid helps minimize odors, so users can toss in food scraps throughout the day without worrying about offensive smells. Once the bucket is full, the machine heats, grinds, and dries food waste into a usable product within six to eight hours. The Vitamix FoodCyler FC-50 costs roughly the same as the Lomi, coming in at $339.95.
The Reencle is a slightly larger compost machine, but this model can process tougher items like watermelon rinds, compostable packaging, and animal proteins. Reencle works silently and, depending on the composition of your food waste, can complete its cycle in as little as two hours. There is even a touchless motion sensor that opens the lid without you having to get your hands dirty. Faster, cleaner, and stronger, Reencle also comes with a higher price tag of $449.
At $299, the Keepeez electric compost bin is the most affordable on the list. Its slightly larger capacity can hold an entire family’s food waste throughout the day and process it in one four-to-eight-hour cycle. This model is a simple, one-button process and even has a self-cleaning function. It’s an efficient machine, and running your Keepeez composter adds just $20 to your annual electricity bill. However, the customer reviews are more mixed than the others, but the company does provide a substantial warranty.
Traditional composting is essentially free, but the time, space, and attention it demands present too many boundaries for most families. Sustainability is as easy as pressing a button with these cool countertop composters.Looking for more of this year’s best sustainability items? At EV Life, we’re always sharing new tips for a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Join the Charge! For more ideas and to subscribe to our newsletter, sign up at eveelife.com. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Published December 22, 2023 3:50PM
Eveelife is an eco-oriented lifestyle platform that helps consumers make more purposeful choices about how they live and what they consume. We do it by curating content and products that help them make more conscious, carbon-free choices while amplifying their EV ownership experience.
