This Bin Has Given Me Complete Composting Confidence
Before I was exclusively working from home, I commuted to an office in an area of town that’s full of environmentally-conscious people. One of the regular conversations that floated around the office (and secretly interested me most) was about composting. I didn’t have anything to offer conversationally, but we made a point to separate compostable goods into a separate bin so that people who were composting at home could add it to their mix. Living in an apartment, I never took anything. I didn’t even know where to begin.
What’s the big deal about composting? It helps to reduce food waste and turn it into nutrient-rich soil. Like any new habit, the hardest part is just getting started. One thing that inspired me to finally take the leap was getting my very own compost bin that could even be used in my little apartment: The EcoCrock Countertop Compost Bin from Chef’n.
It took me a couple of weeks to actually start using the Chef’n compost bin because I wasn’t doing much cooking at the time, but once I began whipping up meals every day, it was my trusted companion in the kitchen. Measuring 9.21”, the bucket is made to sit on the countertop, which may or may not get in the way depending on how much space you have to work with. Fortunately, I’d already rearranged some of my countertop appliances and had room leftover for the bin without it being an inconvenience. It was super handy to have nearby as I was prepping produce for meals or making a cup of tea. The compost bin has a long carrying handle that allows you to open the bucket with one hand from the back, so I could drop food and compost-safe tea bags into it without dirtying my hands. Additionally, the lid is completely removable and the bin can be used with or without liners. I prefer to use compost bin bags with mine because it means there’s less mess that I have to clean later.
My favorite feature of the EcoCrock Compost Bin is the built-in replaceable natural charcoal filter in the lid. Odors are absorbed with activated charcoal as air is vented through a leaf-shaped grate on the top. It’s a simple and appealing design that’s incredibly useful, too! It takes me days to fill up my compost bin, and while food is breaking down inside of it, I don’t have to deal with any smells wafting outside of it. At first, I worried that I was going to walk into my kitchen and get hit with the unpleasant odor of decaying food, but there was no hint of it. My kitchen smelled great! Unbelievably so, considering that when I opened the compost bin, the scent was strong and foul. Once I emptied it, if the bin needed cleaning, I could put the bucket compartment into my dishwasher and easily wash the lid by hand.
Though I have yet to get started on my dream garden with compost-rich soil, I feel good about the baby steps I’ve made toward greener living. If you’re new to composting like me, AT has a great Composting Guide for Total Beginners. All that’s left to do is grab your compost bin and get started!
Buy: Chef’n EcoCrock Countertop Plastic Compost Bin, $21.99
This post originally appeared on Apartment Therapy. See it there: I’m New to Composting, and This Bin Made Me Instantly Feel Like I’ve Been Doing It for Years