We Did The Digging & These Are The 7 Best Compost Bins Of The Year

Food waste contributes to the climate crisis through its significant greenhouse gas footprint, emitting methane as it rots in landfills. Composting not only keeps food scraps out of landfills, but it also recycles nutrients back into the soil, effectively closing the loop between waste and new growth.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, an estimated 6 to 8% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced if we stop wasting food. Food is the single largest category of material sent to landfills, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency1, and of the 25 million tons of wasted food generated by the residential sector in 2018, a mere 3% was composted.

Composting is something we can all do, whether you're a gardener or not, and it comes with some serious benefits. Nutrients released from the decomposition of compost by microbes are used by plants and soil organisms, which help improve the health of your garden.

Composting can also reduce or eliminate the need for store-bought fertilizer.

If you're looking for a home composter, you'll find plenty of options available. "The 'right' composter or composting setup is entirely dependent on your goals and the context you work with in your home," says Alissa LaChance, owner and head consultant at Dirt Rich Compost.

For backyard composting, composter designs such as open-air, tumbler, or in-vessel composters are great options, according to environmental engineer Tracy Fanara, Ph.D. (And if you're on a tight budget, you can also DIY your own composter out of a wooden box, a garbage can, or even just a hole in the ground.)

Vermicomposting, introducing worms into the mix to break down organic material, is another backyard method you can look into. It's a quick way to create a super-nutritious soil product, but those who live in snowy climates won't be able to do it year-round, LaChance warns.

Devices like the Lomi and Reencle stand out as attractive options for people who are looking for a no-fuss, space-saving alternative to traditional composters. These electronic digesters can break down your food scraps in a matter of hours indoors.

But if you want a high-quality soil amendment for your plants or community garden, LaChance suggests steering clear of these machines since they're not actually composting your scraps but rather heating and partially digesting them.

Instead, you can try vermicomposting. While the idea of keeping worms at home may not be for everyone, there are some great well-contained, compact, and unassuming vermicomposters that can be neatly tucked away. The speed and efficiency of the vermicomposting process also keeps odor to a minimum—a must for any indoor system.

Depending on what's available where you live, you can also collect your food scraps in your kitchen and drop them off at a composting site or have them picked up curbside. All you'll need to do this in an easy-to-clean bin that sits on your kitchen counter or in your freezer to mitigate smells.

If you're new to the composting process, expect to be a little patient at first. LaChance notes that composting is both a science and an art, "so don't give up if things aren't working out properly on your first few tries."

It's important to know what is compostable and what isn't. Generally, kitchen scraps from fruit, vegetables, rice, pasta, crackers and cereal, eggshells, and nut shells, as well as most yard waste, can all be placed in your at-home compost bin.

But according to Fanara, you shouldn't compost meats, fish and bones, plants that have been treated with insecticides or herbicides, dog or cat manure, oils and grease, bioplastics, dairy products, and things that won't break down quickly like twigs and branches.

"The No. 1 mistake new composters make is having too much nitrogen or food scraps in their mix," says LaChance, noting that the ratio of nitrogen ("greens" such as kitchen scraps, grass/garden clippings, etc.) to carbon ("browns" such as leaves, wood chips, cardboard, etc.) should be no more than 4:5 to 4 (food scraps) to 5 (browns).

If there is too much carbon, decomposition will slow, and if there is too much nitrogen, your compost will be really stinky and oozy, according to LaChance. If your compost doesn't seem to be doing much, it's either too dry or too high in browns. What you want to achieve is a happy medium between too dry and too wet.

LaChance advises against placing your pile or composter in full sun. "Too much sun dries everything out, which will pause the composting process," she says. If you have a good mix of carbon and nitrogen, the pile should heat up well on its own. 

With any luck, you'll have your first batch of incredibly fertile soil (which will be down at the bottom of your bin or pile) in about three to six months, according to Fanara.

Vermicomposting is generally faster than traditional methods, generating compost in two to three months.

Want to move things along faster? Adding some natural dirt and soil from your surrounding area can help aid the decomposition process because of the native microorganisms already in it, notes Fanara.

She also points out that you can break scraps down first (such as crushing eggshells) to help speed things up.

Turning your compost periodically helps with the aeration that is essential for aerobic bacteria in decomposing material. It's important to note that in the winter, with colder temperatures, your compost will decompose at a slower pace.

Unpleasant odors are a sign that something is off with your compost. Stinkiness could be due to a lack of air, nutrient imbalance, or food scraps left exposed.

"Be sure you're not adding too many food scraps and calling every last dog in the neighborhood over," says LaChance. You should also avoid adding meat and oily foods to your pile, which can attract unwanted pests.

Turning the pile can help keep odors away by warming and oxygenating the mixture, which Fanara suggests be done every few days. You can also top your turned mixture with an added layer of dirt or brown covering to help prevent smells.

While most in-vessel composters are designed to be pest-proof and lockable, open-air piles and DIY vessels may pose a bit of a challenge if a critter discovers your composter.

If you're concerned about the odors associated with storing your kitchen scraps and how they may attract pesky fruit flies, an easy solution is to store them in a suitable container in the freezer. Frozen scraps won't decompose and will remain odorless until you're ready to compost them.

Buying a composter is a great way to reduce your personal footprint and observe nature at work. Just be sure to choose the right one for your space and monitor it for funky smells, pests, and other signs of trouble. And don't stop with compost!