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Get rid of that smell! Countertop compost bin

Kitchen counter compost bin.

Kitchen counter compost bin

Hi Mark,

We have a question about kitchen compost bins. My dad has been using an old pot with a lid for his kitchen waste. But the food ends up becoming very smelly very fast. He wants to know the secret is to turning “300 pounds of stuff” into compost dirt.

Thank you!

Nancy

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Hi Nancy,

The answer to turning “300 pounds of stuff” into dirt you can use around your yard requires a compost bin. And to help make it easier and less smelly in your kitchen, we recommend having one inside and one outside.

Kitchen Composting. Let’s start by fixing those smells in the kitchen. The culprit is the pot. What we use is called a countertop compost bin or holder. The lid is vented to let the compost breathe, and it has a rubber gasket that acts kind of like weather stripping around a door, sealing in odors and sealing out bugs. The vents—which have charcoal filters inside them—allow air to move. The charcoal minimizes odors, keeping the kitchen tidy.

Countertop compost bins are typically a gallon in volume, so they need to be emptied regularly enough that items aren’t hanging around long enough to get too smelly anyway. At our house, emptying that kitchen bin has become a perfect chore for our 12-year-old.

Backyard Composting. The next thing you need is a compost bin in your yard where the material can break down over time. You can make one or buy one. We turn our compost periodically using a shovel because air helps the composting process.

I hope this helps your dad with his composting mission.

Mark & Theresa

Mark

Mark is a licensed contractor, tool expert, wood and outdoor enthusiast, and elite Spartan Race competitor. He writes about home improvement and tools for national magazines and websites, and teaches hands-on clinics for other remodeling professionals. Check out his book, The Carpenter's Notebook.

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