Are home composting machines the answer to food waste?

May 9, 2023·Darcie

Unless you live in a suburban or rural area and have a decent-sized yard, your food waste probably goes into the trash and eventually into a landfill. Food waste produces tremendous amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Municipalities have been slow to implement city-wide composting, so what's a consumer to do? Even the most conscientious eater produces some amount of food waste. The New Yorker's Helen Rosner discusses one possible solution: home composting systems.

Rosner tested three different systems that focus on diversion of food waste from landfills. Two are expensive countertop appliances that use a combination of chopping blades and heat to reduce food scraps to a coarse powder (aka dirt), the FoodCycler ($399.95) and the Lomi ($449). The former is distributed in the U.S. by Vitamix, the latter manufactured by a company that also produces bioplastics. Rosner also trialed Mill, a larger appliance that sits on the floor and that also requires a monthly subscription. Mill has you send the output back to them where they use it as chicken feed.

After using the appliances for a few weeks, Rosner believes that they are worthwhile, with a caveat. "Food-waste processors neatly produce lighter-weight, lighter-footprint waste, but that’s not their primary purpose: they are machines for the efficient alleviation of guilt," she says. It might be difficult to justify the cost of these appliances from a purely financial aspect, but there is some worth in feeling good about cutting down on your carbon footprint.

I have the luxury of having a large backyard, complete with compost pile (although in the middle of winter, trekking out to dump food scraps on the frozen pile doesn't feel much like luxury), so I don't contemplate getting one of these products. I also think that creating more plastic appliances that consume electricity doesn't sound like a great long term solution. However, sending tons of food waste to a landfill is likewise problematic. Do any of you plan to get (or have one) of these home composting products? If so, let us know how well it's working for you.

9 comments

JaneMay 10, 2023

Many countries are making composting of food waste compulsory, thereby greatly reducing greenhouse gas emissions from landfill. Hard to see that happening in the USA, though individual cities and towns are making food waste collections, separate from trash. In my own condo development of 75 homes I introduced food waste collection a few years ago and the collections are constantly increasing. There are lots of private companies that collect food waste - anyone without a yard to do their own composting or budget/space for the above appliances should look into what other options are available locally.

FyretiggerMay 10, 2023

Thank you for sharing this. I was not aware that properly maintained composting does not produce methane. I live in a city that does do food composting, and I partake, but based on postings on NextDoor, I suspect overall compliance is poor -- classic situation where people want a solution to the problem that does not inconvenience them. And of course, there are those who refuse from a perception that it is liberal BS, nanny-state, etc.

JaneMay 10, 2023

The inconvenience is minor once you get in the habit. Food waste just gets dumped into a collection bin rather than the trash. The collection bin has a carbon filter in the lid so no smells escape - unlike when food waste goes into the trash. But yes, when food waste collection is optional rather than compulsory then compliance is much lower. To be fully effective it will take changes at government (local or national) level.

CapeCodCookMay 10, 2023

Hi! I've used a Japanese method of composting for ten years, called Bokashi, which composts ALL food scraps in a closed anerobic bucket or bin with a lid, basically fermenting the scraps rather than the traditional compost-aerobic method. A Bokashi mix of wheat bran inoculated with a special mixture of microorganisms is used to complete the fermentation and the food scraps are ready to be composted in ones' garden or compost pile. Animals are not attracted and no methane is released. You can purchase the Bokashi Buckets or make you own. Many web sources and some garden centers offer them, as well as the "Bokashi bran."

dmco6863May 11, 2023

I live near a stock feed supplier and have a terrible rat problem. Every attempt at composting, including bokashi, which even when dug deep into the ground, has attracted rats. I have contemplated the purchase of a benchtop composter as I could possibly use the "dirt" on my indoor plants. So far the price has held me back.

averythingcooksMay 11, 2023

We have a backyard compost bin that we use all spring, summer & fall but by winter, cold days and nights that can run -20 to -30 C for at least 2 or more months slows things considerably. We purchased a FoodCycler 2 years ago and are very happy to use it from late November to late March. I collect the product in a small bucket and it gets stirred into the composter once the days start to warm and then gets stored away until next winter. We have no municipal composting here (in fact we have no garbage/recycling pick up at all...we take our stuff to the dump ourselves).

MargyBMay 12, 2023

I live in an NYC apartment building where there is no possibility of backyard composting (rats! rats!), but the city collects compostable waste if it's put out separately. In my building you have to bring it down to the basement yourself, unlike other garbage which gets picked up by the staff, bless them. I would just like to speak up for this possibility. I keep the stuff in plastic bags [sorry - but I reuse them until they wear out, and then recycycle] in the freezer until there's enough for a trip to the basement. It's no more annoying than doing the damn laundry - less, actually, since you don't have to fold and put it away. I realize and sympathize with the fact that some people don't have even an inch of extra space in their lives for something like this, but if you do, it's not that bad.

RellaMay 12, 2023

We still have a black ball-sized composter that has been in our un-used garden for many years. Too many critters at our home. It remains there as a sentimental work-of-garden-art (smiling).
My uncle who had a garden all his long life, this is the way he did it: Every scrap was dug into the earth's garden soil on his property. He used this composted soil when he did his planting. Yes, winter month's were hard digging, but did help with keeping fit.

nvernonMay 12, 2023

I was waiting for someone else to admit to this, but I keep my Urban Worm farm inside (it says to do so). No smell, just sits in the corner with thousands of worms eating my vegetable/fruit scraps, as appropriate. I put a curtain/skirt around the stand. No one really notices it. My house isn't huge and has a combined living/dining/kitchen space. Every so often I open the bottom and let the contents into a bucket, then scatter on my potted vegetables, etc. It is way better than a backyard compost.