Don’t let your organic residues go to waste. After preparing your meals, you can use an indoor compost bin to store them.
At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Indoor Compost Bin
- Vitamix FoodCycler FC-50 – Our Top Pick
- BelleMark Countertop Kitchen Compost
- iTouchless Dual Push Door Bin
- Gardenatomy Copper Kitchen Compost Bin
- Chef’n EcoCrock Compost Bin
These composters are amazingly easy to use. They’re often affordable. And more importantly, give you the chance to prepare your own fertilizer.
Tired of buying nutrient-rich food for your plants? Never again with one of these.
But these bins come in all kinds and sizes, making it hard to decide what to pick. Luckily for you, we already tested many of them and decided to bring what we found about them in this article.
Below, you’ll find our opinion on the best compost bins for indoors out there. Check them up!
7 Best Indoor Compost Bins Reviews in 2022
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Vitamix FoodCycler FC-50 | • Automates the composting process • Produces usable compost in hours | |
 | BelleMark Countertop Kitchen Compost | • Comes with a durable and easy-to-clean bucket • Allows easy and quick cleaning | |
 | iTouchless Dual Push Door Bin | • Gets rid of odors like no other • Has a stainless and spotless exterior | |
 | Gardenatomy Copper Kitchen Compost Bin | • Features a gorgeous copper exterior • Comes with extra bags and filters | |
 | Chef’n EcoCrock Compost Bin | • Requires little effort to use and clean • Holds a decent amount of material | |
 | Rubbermaid Slim Jim Plastic Rectangular Compost Can | • Has an extra-sturdy construction • Fits in slim spaces with no problem | |
 | Granrosi Stylish Farmhouse Kitchen Compost Bin | • Cute and all-matching design • Features a practical carrying handle |
So why only 7 with so many compost bins available? We decided to keep it short and only focus on the best among the best.
We focus on their best features, explain how they are better than their competitors, and more importantly, what makes them unique from others. Here’s what we have to say about each:
1. Vitamix FoodCycler FC-50
- The FoodCycler FC-50 is a compact food recycler that reduces food waste and eliminates food scrap odors, making it ideal for indoor use. The new carbon filter lid reduces odors, so you can store your scraps until the bucket is full without worrying about offensive smells. And quieter cycles mean you can run it multiple times a day, year round.
- Convenient: Our compact food recycler reduces food waste to a fraction of its original volume. Mix the recycled food compound into your soil for an easy, nutrient-rich plant food.
Automate your composting cycle. Use an electronic wonder to make the experience less time-consuming.
The FoodCycle FC-50 from Vitamix stands out for its small design and extremely quick composting. Being an electronic device, it transforms any kind of waste into compost almost instantly.
In contrast with other electronic alternatives, the FoodCycler fits even in the slimmest of areas. And because it boasts a 0.5-gallon capacity, you can still produce a lot of compost.
This tiny box has many other features worth learning about, like the multi-cycle feature that automates composting. It starts several times a day to give you an almost ready-to-be-used fertilizer every day.
While the process takes about 4 to 8 hours, you still get exceptional results regardless of how full it is. And more importantly, it makes cleaning a no-brainer with its dishwashing-safe bucket, so you waste even less time simultaneously.
- Automates the composting process
- Produces usable compost in hours
- Has a tiny and practical design
- Looks good enough on any kitchen
- It is a tad noisy
2. BelleMark Countertop Kitchen Compost
- Keeps Out Unwanted Guests - The Rust-Proof 1.6-gallon food grade stainless steel scrap bin features a secure lid that ensures unwanted guests can't get into your compostable scraps.
- Discreet Attractive Design: Indoor kitchen compost container with lid has a rustic, elegant look that fits in and makes a perfect accent piece for any kitchen counter. It's a discreet alternative to large pails and ugly trash cans!
A compost bin doesn’t have to be gross or dull. Instead, it can be gorgeous, boosting up your kitchen’s appeal.
The BelleMark, for example, is a kitchen compost for people who care about style. Designed with Acacia wood on the outside, it brings a rustic wooden tone that everyone can enjoy.
Despite its beauty, it is still decently small. At only 1.6 gallons of capacity, it fits on tiny kitchens effortlessly. And given how easy it is to use with a no-pressure lid, you’ll have no issue getting the most of it.
One feature that sets it apart is the quality stainless steel interior. Despite fitting loosely, the lid still blocks all kinds of odors from going out.
Last but not least, you can take the steel bin out at any moment, place it on the dishwasher, and clean it up without wasting a single second.
- Boasts a gorgeous wooden exterior
- Comes with a durable and easy-to-clean bucket
- Takes enough compost for several days
- Allows easy and quick cleaning
- Doesn’t have handles to carry around
3. iTouchless Dual Push Door Bin
- OUR PROMISE TO YOU – Your 100% satisfaction is assured and backed by a Full-Service Manufacturer's Warranty and Dedicated Customer Support (see user manual for details)
- QUICK & EASY DISPOSAL – Dual side access design is perfect for busy homes, restaurants, restrooms, offices, lobbies, stores – quick & easy trash disposal
Tired of touching the compost bin and getting your fingers dirty? Don’t worry. The Dual Push Bin from iTouchless can be the perfect solution.
While not precisely a compost bin from its design, it works perfectly fine as one. At 18 gallons of capacity, it can handle enough compost to feed your vegetable garden for days or even weeks.
Its best feature comes from the touchless build – no need to put your fingers on it in the slightest. The doors will open automatically so you can pour residues inside.
To set it apart, it also features an odor-removal system. The AbsorbX Natural Carbon Filter will trap the worse smells and keep the environment safe.
And if all that wasn’t enough, it boasts a set of casters. These wheels allow maximum portability indoors. If you don’t need them, you can take them out quickly.
Lastly, it looks gorgeous. The exterior fingerprint-resistant steel sets it apart in elegance and beauty, keeping it stainless for long.
- Keeps you from touching anything
- Gets rid of odors like no other
- Has a stainless and spotless exterior
- Can handle tons of residues for weeks
- Opens automatically with pets and children
4. Gardenatomy Copper Kitchen Compost Bin
- BETTER VALUE: Most compost pails come with just 1 to 2 filters at most. Ours comes with an entire year's worth of dual charcoal filters & biodegradable liner bags... so you get more for your money.
- PURE, PREMIUM STAINLESS STEEL: On the inside, our rugged bin is 100% stainless steel, seamless for leakproof strength. Rest assured it will never leach harmful chemicals into your compost!
Loveliness and functionality in the same place. The Copper Compost Bin from Gardenatomy will set your kitchen apart, making it more attractive and ready to produce helpful fertilizer.
The beauty of this bin comes from the copper construction. This copper paint adds a classy touch that will match any traditional-looking kitchen.
As for the container, you can enjoy stainless steel construction. Capable of holding 1.3 gallons of residues, it works well for kitchens of any size.
But if there’s something that you shouldn’t dismiss, it is the filter system. The filter is on the lid, ready to diminish the odors the bin produces. More interestingly, you get an entire year’s worth of charcoal filters, so you don’t run out any time soon.
And if all that isn’t enough for you, the bin still comes with disposable bags. They fit perfectly and will keep you from ever touching the compost unnecessarily. That’s a bargain you can’t overlook.
- Features a gorgeous copper exterior
- Filters the smell well enough
- Comes with extra bags and filters
- Small but spacious for most kitchens
- Doesn’t prevent fruit flies
5. Chef’n EcoCrock Compost Bin
- CONTEMPORARY DESIGN: Modern 3 liter (0.75 gallon) ceramic countertop compost bin, featuring a vented lid, removable inner bucket, and a replaceable natural charcoal filter that traps and absorbs odors.
- AT HOME: Dual bucket design with removable inner bucket and built in handle allows food scraps to easily slide out without a mess or hassle.
A cute, simple, and versatile compost bin that makes your composting an effortless experience. The EcoCrock from Chef’n gets the job done modestly.
At 0.75 gallons of capacity, the bucket is sufficient for several days of compost. This also makes it sufficiently small to fit in any part of your kitchen.
Its main feature? It’s gorgeous. Despite its simplicity, it offers a sleek white ceramic body with a super-cute leaf handle on top. This design matches any kitchen style and adds a touch of sweetness to any place.
On top of that, you can forget about uncomfortable smells, thanks to the EcoCrock charcoal filters. They keep the air going in but prevent the odors from going out.
And to make it even more enticing, it is a piece of cake to use and maintain. A double-bucket system with a drafted design allows you to take the inner bin at any time, store or use the compost, and then clean effortlessly.
- Its simple design matches with any kitchen
- Requires little effort to use and clean
- Minimizes smells exponentially
- Holds a decent amount of material
- The ceramic build is a bit fragile
6. Rubbermaid Slim Jim Plastic Rectangular Compost Can
- EFFORTLESS BAG REMOVAL - Venting channels make removing liners from the container up to 80% easier, improving productivity and reducing the risk of back injury.
- TRASH BAG CINCHES - 4 bag cinches secure liners around the rim of the container and create quick, knot-free liner changes.
Don’t overlook plastic bins either. The Slim Jim is a rectangular marvel, perfectly designed to be easy to maintain and move around.
With a superior 23-gallon capacity, the compost can hold the largest compost amounts for several days, weeks, or even months.
It boasts contoured handles in the top and bottom, so you can transport it anywhere. And close to the top handles, you’ll find cinches that allow super-fast bag changes.
As for the build, you’ll find a high-quality plastic build. With a rib-strengthened rim, the compost bin can handle all kinds of uses, including crushing and damage from impacts.
For its shape and size, you can consider it a large piece. Yet, it is slim designed to fit in narrow spaces with no problem.
- Has an extra-sturdy construction
- Large enough for weeks of composting
- It is easy to move around
- Fits in slim spaces with no problem
- Comes with no lid
7. Granrosi Stylish Farmhouse Kitchen Compost Bin
- ✅ ODOR FREE INDOOR COMPOSTING: The Granrosi kitchen compost bin is the perfect odorless storage container for organic and food waste in your home; the integrated non-smell charcoal filter blocks odor naturally and effectively, leaving your home smelling fresh.
- ✅ HIGH-GRADE CHARCOAL FILTERS: In addition to the built-in charcoal filter you will receive 2 extra filters for the kitchen compost bin - each filter lasts approx. 3-4 months; keep your kitchen smelling fresh with the indoor countertop compost bucket.
Make your compost in style with the Granrosi Farmhouse Compost Bin. While straightforward in design, it adds a unique touch of beauty to any area, making it impossible to ignore.
At first, you’ll notice it is relatively small. With 7.1 inches in diameter and only 11 inches tall, the bin lets you place it anywhere you want. This design allows you to produce over 1.3 gallons of compost at once.
A unique addition to the piece is the high-quality metal construction. It is smooth and prevents any residues from ever getting stuck. Considering the bin’s circular shape, you can expect no build and thus a super-simple cleaning experience.
Another top-notch feature is the odor-free performance. Given the charcoal filters on the lid, it keeps the interior breathing for fast composting but prevents smells from spreading around.
And to make it even better, you can enjoy a cute yet well-designed handle so you can open and close with no effort.
- Cute and all-matching design
- Withstands years of use
- Features a practical carrying handle
- Filters odors well enough for the kitchen
- Tends to attract many fruit flies
How to Pick the Best Indoor Compost Bin
You’re reading about these fantastic bins, but you barely know whether one is better than the other or why. Rest assured, it is not too hard to learn what to look for and what to ignore. The factors below will help you find the ideal indoor compost bin:
Materials & Quality
Surprisingly, compost bins come with all kinds of materials. Most of them are made of stainless steel, though.
Steel is a perfect material because it allows the organics to produce sufficient moisture, keeps the interior warm, and still absorbs little to no smell from the compost. Don’t forget stainless steel is also super durable.
Another material worth considering is plastic. It is way cheaper while still capable of increasing moisture for the decomposition to happen quick. As a downside, plastic tends to absorb odors a lot more and generally takes more to clean.
Lastly, you can consider ceramic. Like steel, it doesn’t absorb odors too much and requires little effort to clean. However, it tends to be a bit more fragile due to ceramic’s nature.
If there’s a material you should stay away from, that’s wood or anything that could rot. Materials that could secrete chemicals are also worth ignoring, like plastics with BPA, rubber, PVC, brass, lead, and other damaging metals. The reason? Their chemicals may end up in your vegetable garden and cause damage.
Size & Capacity
How much compost do you want to produce? This will be a vital thing to consider as compost bins come in all sizes, depending on your needs.
For example, if you produce little organic waste per day (say a few banana peels), then a tiny kitchen compost bin of about 0.5 to 1 gallon will get the job done.
But if your house is constantly producing gallons of organic waste and has lots of space to offer, you’ll want something larger of no less than 2 gallons.
It’s worth noting that smaller bins break down slower than larger ones. But they’re a lot easier to clean and maintain.
Weight & Portability
How heavy do you want the compost bin to be? While many people don’t consider this, it can be the difference between a compost bin that is too hard to use and one you can transport with ease.
We recommend compost bins that weigh no more than 10 pounds. If the model you’re getting weighs more than that, at least make sure it comes with handles and/or wheels to move it around easily.
Shape & Design
While counterintuitive at first, the shape of the compost is vital. Why? For example, a square bottom can be harder to scrape when it’s time to get the compost out.
Similarly, the exterior’s shape can be the difference between a compost bin that fits in your cabinets and one that needs to be placed alongside the freezer or in a corner.
Don’t overlook the design of the piece, either. You’ll want something sufficiently attractive to place in your kitchen without affecting the place’s beauty. In fact, the right design can even enhance it.
Ventilation & Odor Reduction
Finally, make sure the compost bin comes with ventilation holes and/or systems that prevent the odor from accumulating and eventually getting out.
Apart from that, oxygen that goes inside helps to keep the decomposition going. Just be sure to get a compost with filters that prevent the odor from going out (or at least reduces it).
How to Use Indoor Compost Bin?
There’s not much to know about compost bins when it comes to using them. However, here are a few tips you want to consider to increase the quality of the compost:
- Try to only pour organic residues into the bin
- Use items as small as possible to ensure quicker decomposition
- Avoid throwing bones, feces, and artificial materials into the compost (metals, plastics, papers, etc.)
- Add leaves of fragrant herbs and other good-smelling residues for better scent
- Keep turning the interior of the compost bin consistently, if possible
- Don’t pour chemicals like chlorine or alcohol that could affect the process
- Always follow the composter instructions (in case it has any)
- Place the compost in a warm area, preferably for rapid composting
- Allow some air inside, but try to keep the bin closed at all times
All these tips will prevent the composting from going too slow and ensure it smells less, produces nutritious fertilizer, and avoids damaging compounds inside.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We went through many of the best indoor compost bins and explained how to pick the right one. But we still left a lot of information regarding these composters out. Here are some common questions with their respective answers:
Does a compost bin smell?
Yes. The bin and the compost smell because the residues break down, rot, and produce bacteria that cause uncomfortable odors. As the compost keeps breaking down, the smell starts to slowly fade away.
When is compost ready?
When the compost starts smelling like earth instead of rotting residues, that’s a sign it’s ready to be used as fertilizer. Also, it should look dark and similar to soil instead of residues.
How to start an indoor compost bin?
You can always make your own indoor compost bin without spending any money. For this, you can always use crates, drawers, cabinets, trash cans, garden carts, wine barrels, and more. Pretty much anything that can hold residues without rotting can help compost.
We recommend using biodegradable bags and fabrics for containing the compost in case the item you’re using can rot.
Does a compost bin need to be in the sun?
No. You can always leave the compost bin indoors without any problem. In fact, leaving it indoors with proper ventilation promotes quicker breaking down. Sunlight slows down the breaking-down process and may bring unnecessary insects into the pile.
Where to put compost bin in the kitchen?
It depends on the type of compost bin you got. Generally, though, it’s worth placing it where the smells can’t reach you when you’re cooking or tasting food. An ideal place would be close to windows, under the sink, and corners away from cabinets, countertops, and stoves.
Conclusion
Fertilizing your vegetable garden doesn’t have to be an expensive or annoying experience anymore. With an indoor compost bin, you can save up all the organic residues and give your veggies enough food for years.
So, what are you waiting to add such a practical item to your home? Don’t wait any more time, and start making your compost right now!