Have you ever thought about using indoor compost bins for your kitchen? No? Well, such a thing does exist! And there are some good reasons why you should purchase one and start using it right away. Let’s look at the benefits of using indoor compost bins for your kitchen, and then I’ll show you where you can get one.

What is compost and why should you care?

Compost is basically decomposed organic matter from things such as fruit and vegetable peels, egg shells, and leftover food. Compost is also made from the organic matter in your yard, including grass clippings and dry leaves. It’s a great way to get more out of the stuff in your kitchen that normally is destined for the trash can. You should care because compost makes excellent fertilizer for your garden. It is rich in vitamins and nutrients for the soil and a natural pesticide. And aside from the initial investment of indoor compost bins for your kitchen {and/or one for outside too} it’ll cost you nothing to produce!

Benefits of indoor compost bins for your kitchen

One of the benefits of indoor compost bins for your kitchen is that it allows you to easily compost year-round, especially in a cold climate. Cold weather inhibits the composting process, so winters aren’t conducive to outdoor composting without a lot of extra care and attention.

Another benefit of indoor composting is the space requirements. Outdoors, a compost bin needs at least three square feet for best results. Inside, you can stash your indoor compost bin in a corner of your kitchen, under the sink, or even a spot in the basement. You can even leave it out on your counter if that’s the space you have! So even if you are an apartment dweller with a small balcony garden space, you can successfully produce your own compost.

Best indoor compost bins for your kitchen

Ideally, your compost bin should fit within the space you have to store it. As a guide, a household consisting of 1-2 people should plan on a 5 to 10 gallon sized bin. If your household is 3 or 4 persons, you need a 15 to 18 gallon container. The ideal indoor compost bin is plastic or stainless with a removable lid. It also must have a few holes to let air circulate through the compost. You can use a smaller compost bin for the countertop, but plan on having a larger one available as the countertop bin fills up.

You can purchase some attractive options for your countertop at Amazon. Here are my favorite examples:

Larger options available at Amazon for under the sink or in your basement include these:

No matter which of these indoor compost bins for your kitchen you decide to use, be sure to include brown matter with your green waste. Brown matter includes things like newspaper and cardboard, plus a little of your garden soil. Green waste from your kitchen goes on top. For more great information on composting, check out my post on hot or cold composting.