Composting 101: Cheap, No Smell, Minimal Fuss
We started composting because I detest waste, especially food waste, but did so cognizant that there would be sacrifices, such as odor and fruit flies. But the amazing truth is we have experienced neither, thanks to a couple of great buckets. Full-on outdoor composting bins that turn scraps into soil run around $100, which felt like about $85 too much. Fortunately we figured out a simple, somewhat cheap three-part system. Four parts, if you include the jar of bacon grease in our freezer, which I will get to. Our three items:
- An OXO Good Grips countertop 0.75-gallon Easy-Clean Compost Bin, like new with a supposed cosmetic imperfection from Amazon Warehouse for $13.97.
- These composting bags, 100 for $12.67 from Amazon.
- An orange Home Depot bucket with lid for outdoor storage, for about six bucks.
That yields a total of about $33, so not nothing but within most budgets. I am sure you can get creative to spend less.
The OXO sits on our counter and happily swallows onion skins and apple cores. Its handle makes it easy to move without having to wash one’s hands, and the lid closes flush enough that we have never experienced any odor or insects. Even when it is overfilled and the lid is propped up overnight, there are no issues. But this is where your mileage may vary a bit: Alexandria, Virginia where we live accepts only plant matter as compost, no animal products or oils. Those go in the trash, where bacon grease in particular stinks like you would not believe. We surmise that vegetable and fruit scraps were previously somehow reacting to defuse the stench. Plus we do end up taking our kitchen garbage out much less frequently because it fills far more slowly. The solution, from my beloved step-mother-in-law (hi, Tracey!) is to pour the grease into a jar and freeze it. We have to figure out where to take it, but we have a toddler and a newborn so for now the solution is a second jar. OK, so call it a five-part system.
The bags make it easier to transfer our offerings to Gaia (just kidding) to the outdoor Home Depot bucket, which thanks to a sealed lid emits precisely zero odor. We find emptying the OXO pail at least once a week prevents the bags from failing and filling the bottom with the copious water produced by the breakdown. For this reason I would be wary of buying the 1.75-gallon OXO bucket even though it only costs about 50% more. We take the big outdoor bucket to a farmer’s market every two or three weeks. That really is it.
As a mini economist I often wonder if this or that supposedly green activity or product actually is good for the planet. The answer for composting appears to be a clear yes thanks to the methane produced by food waste in landfills. This is usually vented to avoid exploding landfills, which would be equally hilarious and terrifying, though I believe some modern facilities capture the methane for use as fuel. Whereas apparently methane-producing microbes are anaerobic, meaning compost does not yield that supercharged greenhouse gas. So if you do decide to compost, I think you can safely enjoy a (metaphorical!) warm glow. I hope you give it a try!
