The Best Countertop Composter of 2024 + 3 more

I’ve been composting in one way or another for years now, and composting still amazes me… and if I’m brutally honest, it even still intimidates me a little.

I’ve tried several types of composters on the market, from a simple compost bin, composting kits, electric countertop composters, and even worm composting!

I put them to the test (and have failed until success) with copious amounts of food scraps (holy coffee grounds!) that I generate both from personal use and in my personal chef business, and I have found my way around that intimidation, but for years I let it stop me from starting. (Kind of similar to my story about air fryers, come to think of it…)

I wish I had someone to tell me that the wonderful thing about composting is, it’s like a choose-your-own-adventure!

You can go all out and start a backyard compost pile and grow a garden, or if you’re like me, you want to do the “good” thing- you know, do your part to fight food waste. But a simple and easy method would give you much better chances for success!

And really, that’s the more important thing. It doesn’t matter how you get started with compost. What matters is that you compost.

In this article, I’ll give you the run down on the different types of countertop composters available on the market and which one is the right solution for your needs.

There’s lots to talk about! And we better get to it… but for those of you who can’t wait, here’s your quick answer:

What Is the Best Countertop Composter?

Mill Bin (My Top Pick)

Lomi (Best For Aesthetic)

Vitamix Foodcycler Eco 5 (Best Brand Reputation)

Reencle (Best Output)

Do These Machines Actually Compost Food Scraps?

You’ll notice I use quotations around “composters” anywhere in this article that we’re talking about electric “composters.” Because the truth about these “composters” is that they’re not really composters at all. The way they work is to grind and dry food scraps into a material that appears similar to dirt.

But don’t let that turn you off completely… I think they deserve a chance, so keep reading…

Although the Lomi and Reencle both offer the addition of microbes that they claim create a more compost-like end result, some experts still aren’t convinced.

And I definitely don’t agree with dishonest marketing, and calling these “Composters” is dishonest, even if it’s purpose is apparently to “create the connection for the consumer.” Better education is the answer in my opinion.

However…

I do think these machines have a place on our countertops. Now, hear me out.

While preventative food waste practices like meal planning, take the cake when it comes to fighting this battle, there’s no getting around the fact that there will be food scraps after eating and even after meal prep.

So what to do with them?

So so so many people (check out the reviews below) are finding these machines as the perfect solution to this part of their food waste problem.

And here’s a big one: Electric “composters” might just be the catalyst many of us need to start one of the most powerful sustainability practices there is. And a damn good start it would be.

The Electric Countertop “Composters” Is A Perfect Fit For You If….

• Separating your food waste from regular garbage is a new habit for you.

• You live somewhere that municipal food waste pickup is not available.

• An outdoor compost pile puts you at risk of wildlife invasion.

• You’re looking to save money by downsizing your garbage can size, number of trash bags used, and even spendings on fertilizer.

• You want to make one of the biggest dents in your carbon footprint: eliminating your food waste generation.

PROS:

• Kickstarter:

  The biggest benefit may be that these machines can get us over the hump of starting a new habit.

  The act of separating food waste instead of discarding it into the garbage is crucial. This practice significantly impacts global warming, especially when considering that food waste is the primary contributor to landfill contents.

• Odorless & Quiet:

  The reality is that the other options for indoor composting are smelly. These electric versions are the only ones that prevent your kitchen from smelling like rotting food.

• Speedy & Easy:

  Most of these “composters” turn food scraps into a finished product overnight and some even finish their cycle in as little as 6 or even 2 hours. It’s hard for me not to call that magic.

• Ideal for Apartments

  Apartment dwellers will especially appreciate the convenience of these machines for all the reasons above but also because with an electric “composter,” the amount of trips outside or down the elevator/stairs to the municipal bin or compost pile is cut by more than half!

• Speeds Up Decomposition

  This is how I view these machines for people with compost piles and tons of garden space. They can dramatically decrease the time it takes your traditional compost pile to turn your food scraps into black gold. Hmm… you could even start a little side hustle with all of your extra compost. Just an idea. 😉

DOWNSIDE:

• Not (Usually) Compost

  We’ve already covered this a bit. The end result is not fully composted and still requires a process of decomposition in order to be used as a soil amendment or plant fertilizer. (Unless you add microbes, but then the end results still needs to be mixed with soil 1:10).

• Kinda BIG

  Most on this list do in fact sit on your countertop and they take up quite a bit of real estate.

• Pricey

  Prepare to pay a pretty penny for these beauties. Most cost somewhere around $400. For some that’s an outright purchase, and for the Mill Bin that’s the annual cost of their subscription rental & pick up service.

  Worth it? Add up how much you would save in reduced garbage services, trash bags, headaches, and of course there’s all the methane you’re preventing from being released if those food scraps were to end up in the landfill. Unfortunately, no one’s going to pay you for that, but the Earth will thank you.

Here’s My Full List of the Best Countertop Composters

Mill Bin (My Top Pick)

If I could only pick one, it would be the Mill Bin. It marks every single box for me.

Its odorless, fast, easy, and it’s the only electric “composter” that doesn’t claim to make compost. I appreciate the brands honesty.

What’s even more kick ass?

They support a closed-loop system for food waste with their pick up service of your processed food waste. It’s bloody genius and I’m buying stock.

I’m convinced this is the future of ending food waste in the home.

What it Is & How it Works:

The Mill Bin is an electric food waste processing device that grinds and dehydrates food scraps. Operating on a 6-hour cycle, it’s equipped with smart technology to automatically adjust to the amount of food added, efficiently turning your kitchen waste into a dirt-like material.

Specs:

11L bucket

14.6″L x 16.1″W x 26.8″H

50 lbs

What Customers Are Saying:

• “Mill is the answer to my compost problem when I moved from an area with curbside composting to one without. I tried a different device, but it couldn’t keep up with our family.”

  – Lissa T., WA

• “Absolutely love my Mill!!! Extremely pleased with the product, app, support, and pricing.”

  – Courtney D., RI

Standout Features:

• Sustainable Closed-Loop System: Mill Bin’s standout feature is its support of a closed-loop system. The processed material can be sent back to Mill Bin, where they aim to repurpose it as an ingredient in chicken feed, effectively reducing household food waste and contributing to sustainable livestock feed.

• Smart and User-Friendly: The Mill Bin is compatible with an app that controls start times, alerts for bin emptying, and schedules pick-ups, complete with a prepaid box for easy return.

• Flexible Ownership Options: Available for a one-time purchase of $899 or through a subscription model at $359.88 for a year ($33/month), which includes rental, filter refills, service to the machine if needed, and the pick-up service. The purchase option provides a year of filters but excludes pick-up and servicing.

• Efficient Waste Reduction: Capable of shrinking food scraps by over half, it’s suitable for individual or family use, taking about 1-3 weeks to fill. It’s as big as a standard kitchen trash can and weighs 50 lbs.

• Restrictions and Quiet Operation: While it can’t process certain foods like large bones or excessively oily items, it’s remarkably quiet, aside from initial cycle noises.

• Odorless End-Product: Transforms typically smelly items into an odorless dirt-like material.

Drawbacks:

• Mill Bin is similar to other “composters” on the market and simply dehydrates and then dries the food scraps. And while they do have an idea for a closed-loop system for the output to be turned into sustainable chicken feed, it is still in the process of being fully up and running.

The Mill Bin brand stands out for its honesty, efficiency, and innovative approach to managing kitchen waste, and they’re by far my top pick.

Lomi

For those seeking a blend of aesthetics, function, and sustainability, the Lomi may just be the compost solution you’ve been dreaming of.

What it Is & How it Works:

The Lomi is a countertop composting device that uses a combination of heat, abrasion, and oxygen to break down food scraps. It’s recommended to use Lomi Pods and Lomi Blends, which contain microbes and nutrients to enhance the composting process and reduce odors. Lomi was the first home “composter” to market their device as able to break down bioplastics.

Specs:

3L bucket

20″L x 16″W x 14″H

15 lbs

3 hour cycle

What Customers Are Saying:

• “Use it right and it will help with all your gardening needs!!”

  – Ilona C.

• “This machine is so great. Biggest difference I see is that the weight of my garbage has decreased significantly!.”

  – Michelle K.

Standout Features:

• Bye Bye Bioplastics: The Lomi can handle anything “Lomi Approved” in addition to something called bioplastics. Think compostable cutlery, cups, plates, etc. Basically anything that says “compostable” or “biodegradable.” Just make sure you have a 1:10 ratio of bioplastics to food waste.

• Aesthetically Pleasing Design: Lomi boasts a modern, sleek design that enhances kitchen aesthetics, making it one of the most visually appealing composters available.

• Handy App: iPhone and Android compatible. The app tracks the lifespan of the Lomi filters depending on how often you use it and will remind you when it’s time to change. It will even tell you how many pounds of garbage you’ve saved and how much CO2 you’ve prevented.

• Compact Size: While relatively large for a countertop appliance, its dimensions (16″ W x 13″ D x 12” H) make it suitable for most kitchen spaces.

• Sustainable Supplemental Products: Lomi offers additional products like Lomi Pods (microbes) and Lomi Blends (nutrients) to improve compost quality, ideal for gardeners and plant enthusiasts, though at an additional cost.

• Efficient Composting Technology: Lomi’s advanced composting process ensures quick and efficient breakdown of food scraps, with reduced odor, although there is still a detectable smell.

• Perfect For Small Households: Ideal for one or two-person households, especially for those who want to use their compost for home gardening.

Drawbacks:

• The Lomi Pods and filter refills can add up – about $240/year for both, some savings offered if you subscribe for regular deliveries through the site and even greater discounts for these on amazon.

• This machine is not completely odorless but is significantly less smelly than rotting food!

Vitamix Foodcycler Eco 5

For those who are looking for a trusted brand, this machine is a great choice – An energy-efficient and stylish food recycling solution.

What it Is & How it Works:

The Vitamix FoodCycler Eco 5 is an electric “composter” that dries and grinds food scraps into a light and fluffy dirt-like material. Unlike its predecessor, the FC 50, it features refillable filters with compostable carbon pellets, making it an eco-friendlier option.

Specs:

5 L bucket

13.8″L x 13.5″W x 10.9″H

29 lbs

3 hour cycle

What Customers Are Saying:

• “It is no louder than current dishwashers, and it turns all that leftover food and scraps into nutrients you can feed back into the garden. No unpleasant smells and the use of one bucket to collect and grind makes this a no-brainer.”

  – Abhiram K.

• “As a private chef, I have a lot of food scraps while prepping and such. This is amazing, it’s like set it and forget it! No going outside to turn the tumbler X amount of times each for three weeks to create soil. I use the food compost for my above ground garden!”

  – Jeffrey S.

Standout Features:

• Refillable and Compostable Filters: This model uses refillable filters filled with compostable carbon pellets, a significant improvement over disposable filters.

• Optional Soil Probiotics: Vitamix offers “foodlizer tablets” as an additional purchase. These tablets, when dissolved and sprayed on the mix of soil and FoodCycler output, enhance the composting process, though they may require extra effort.

• Aesthetic & Functional Design: The removable inner bucket is as sleek as the machine itself, complete with a carbon filter lid. It’s attractive enough to be kept on the counter or in visible areas.

• Energy Efficient: True to Vitamix’s reputation, the FoodCycler Eco 5 is designed for energy efficiency, making it an environmentally conscious choice.

• Trusted Brand: Vitamix’s reputation for quality and durability adds a layer of trust and reliability to this product.

Drawbacks:

• The upfront cost of the machine is more costly than others. I guess you’re paying for the trusted brand with this one.

Reencle (Best Output)

This is the only composter on the list that I don’t have to use quotations for. The end result here is garden-ready compost!

What it Is & How it Works:

The Reencle Composter uses patented microbes to break down food waste, transforming it into nutrient-rich plant food. Unlike other electric composters that simply dehydrate scraps, Reencle maintains the nutrients, offering genuine composting benefits.

Specs:

14 L bucket

12”L x 13”W x 18.4”H

20 lbs

Runs continuously, depending on type of food, decomposition happens between 2-24 hours

What Customers Are Saying:

• “An incredible composter. Cut my kitchen garbage by about 75%. The Smell 100% Best kitchen appliance I have ever purchased. Excited to use the compost in my greenhouse this spring.”

  – William E.

• “We have two Reencles; we call them ‘The Twins’. I’m so glad that I bought these. Spendy, yes – but so worth it! Now I don’t have to fight to get the compost taken out to the recycling bin. I also don’t have the smell and mess under the sink, or the fruit flies that it attracts. Plus, our cherry tomatoes not only tasted great, but the four plants were absolutely huge! They do their job quickly and without any fuss. Love them!”

  – Sherri H.

Standout Features:

• Patented Microbe Technology: This key feature allows Reencle to turn food waste into compost in less than 24 hours, preserving nutrients and creating genuine plant food.

• Low Maintenance and Cost-Efficient: Annual filter cost is $25, semi-permanent microorganisms don’t require frequent purchasing, and an annual electricity cost of only about $24.

• Fast Composting Cycle: With the ability to compost in as little as 2 hours, Reencle is perfect for those who value speed and efficiency.

• Countdown Clock and App Integration: The composter features a countdown clock, indicating when the compost will be ready, and an app that monitors available space for additional scraps.

• Touchless Motion Sensor Door: For added convenience, the door opens with a motion sensor, making it easier and more hygienic to use.

• Bioplastic Breakdown: Able to compost compostable packaging, it’s more versatile than many of its competitors.

• Quiet Operation: Known as the quietest machine on the market (28dB), it’s ideal for those who prefer a more discreet appliance.

Drawbacks:

• Can’t break down bones

• Larger than most, more like the size of a kitchen trash can

Countertop Composters vs. Countertop Compost Bins

Maybe the whole electric composter thing isn’t your bag. Countertop bins might suffice, but check out the breakdown below to make sure you’re okay with the bin plan.

Countertop Composter

Countertop composters are more technologically advanced devices designed to speed up the composting process. These often electric-powered units actively break down food scraps through mechanisms such as dehydration, grinding, or, in some cases, using microbes to decompose the material. The end product is typically a soil amendment that can further decompose in a traditional compost pile or be directly added to garden soil.

• Electrically Powered: Most countertop composters require electricity to operate their mechanisms.

• Faster Breakdown: They can transform food scraps into compost-like material in a matter of hours or days.

• More Complex Maintenance: They often require more maintenance, such as cleaning and, in some cases, replacing filters or adding specific microbes or additives.

• Higher Cost: Generally, they are more expensive than simple kitchen compost bins due to their advanced features.

Countertop Compost Bin

On the other hand, countertop compost bins are simple containers used to collect kitchen waste until it’s transferred to an outdoor compost pile or a local collection service. They don’t process or break down the scraps but merely serve as temporary storage.

• No Electricity Required: These bins do not require electricity. They are essentially holding tanks for your scraps.

• Odorous: There’s no escaping the smell of rotting food when it’s just sitting in a bin waiting to be taken out.

• Simple and Convenient: They are typically easy to clean, often dishwasher-safe, and user-friendly.

• Affordable: These bins are more budget-friendly and are a good starting point for beginners in composting.

The End Result

So, most electric composters on the market don’t actually “compost” in the traditional sense, but after reading this post, I hope you can see that they still have a place in our kitchens. Some of us don’t have access to municipal services for industrial composting or can’t keep an outdoor compost bin. These machines give us access to an incredibly powerful act of sustainability.

But whether you go for the old school or electric variety, the main takeaway here is that you’re making a really important decision to do something about your individual (and maybe your family’s) contribution to food waste.

It’s a big deal.

Worth celebrating in whatever way you deem appropriate. Me, I’m doing a happy dance. (Any chance I get, thank you very much.)