Compost Bins can be the best way to ‘do your bit’ and turn your food waste into nutrient-rich soil. However, with so many varied options on the market, it’s easy to get confused about which products are great and which are not so great.
In this article we discuss 6 of the best compost bins on the market in Australia. After our compost bin reviews, we list the key things you’ll want to watch out for when choosing one to ensure you end up with the best product for your needs.
Here are the best compost bins in Australia:
1. KitchenCraft Stainless Steel Compost Bin (Top Pick)
This compact 5 litre compost bin from KitchenCraft is designed to help conscious homeowners collect their food waste without having to compromise on hygiene or odour control. The product, which comes with a spare carbon filter, cleverly holds food waste inside without odours getting out into the kitchen. You can simply fill it up to 5 litres and then lift with the handle and empty it into your outdoor compost bin or heap.
Customers will love that the stainless steel Bokashi bin is dishwasher safe, so there’s no need to work hard cleaning food stains and debris from it when it needs a refresh between uses.
What We Like:
- Effective odour control
- Attractive design
- Compact
- Dishwasher safe
What We Don’t Like:
- Tricky to replace filters in the future
2. Staples Foundry Porcelain Compost Bin
This trendy white composter would fit well into any modern kitchen. Constructed from durable porcelain it is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. This compost bin includes a removable filter located within the lid to soak up odors and features a handy carry handle for easy transportation.
What’s more, each Staples compost bin comes gift boxed so would make an excellent gift for the eco-conscious people in your life.
What We Like:
- Trendy white porcelain
- Dishwasher safe
- Gift boxed
What We Don’t Like:
- No replacement filters included
3. Urban Composter Bokashi Bucket 16L Compost Bin
If you’re looking for an incredibly efficient, innovative compost bin, you’ll want to consider the Bokashi 16 litre.
With a choice of four bright lid colours, you can be sure this modern-looking product will brighten up your kitchen. It’s also likely to brighten up your eco-credentials too, by turning food waste into nutrient-rich pulp right in your kitchen.
Using a special accelerator spray, you simply treat the scraps that you add, with no odour leakage into the kitchen. After a few days, you drain the soil and continue to do so until the bin is full. Soil liquid can be diluted and added to plants, whilst the food waste pulp can be added to soil, left for 4-8 weeks and then used as a phenomenal compost.
Consumers will love how easy the urban composter is to use, and how it looks beautiful, enhancing both the eco-credentials and aesthetic of any modern kitchen.
What We Like:
- Odour control
- Attractive design
- Creates ease-to-mix pulp for soil
- Innovative bin drainage tap
What We Don’t Like:
- Instruction manual may not be as detailed as possible
- Tap can get blocked with certain scraps and waste
4. PlantCraft 160L Dual Barrel Rotating Compost Tumbler Bin
The heavy-duty 100% recycled plastic compost bin from PlantCraft is for homeowners looking for a more substantial composter than compact kitchen counter types.
Using an innovative rotating system and dual chambers, it works by efficiently composting on one side, whilst the cured side can be emptied. The huge 160 litre capacity is ideal for making lots of nutrient-rich compost, but the sturdy frame, removable sliding lid and multiple handles mean it is still extremely easy to use and manage.
Customers will appreciate the air vents and built-in churner which further speed up the composting process, ensuring you get great compost to use as quickly as possible.
What We Like:
- Dual chambers
- Air vented and rotating compost tumbler
- Easy to use
- Huge 160 litre capacity
What We Don’t Like:
- Consumers need to learn about best compost practises
- Additional handles could make the product even easier to use
5. PlantCraft 290L Aerated Compost Bin
The Plantcraft aerated compost bin is designed to help homeowners easily compost in their backyard.
The design features 90% recycled plastic and a secure lid, ensuring no pesky pests find their way into your food scraps.
Aeration holes are at the heart of the smart design, ensuring air circulation and speeding up the composting process so you can enjoy a nutrient rich soil for your yard as soon as possible. Two handy snap-lock aeration hatches also enable easy mixing from all sides, for your convenience.
What We Like:
- Aeration holes and hatches for speedy composting
- Secure lid to keep pests out
- 90% recycled plastic
- Easy to use
What We Don’t Like:
- Product weight may mean item is not 100% secure in winter
- Product durability may not be as high as thicker plastic build products
6. 7 Litre Maze Kitchen Bench Caddy Compost Bin
The simple design of the Maze bench caddy is ideal for eco-friendly homeowners looking to start improving their kitchen waste kudos.
At just 7 litre capacity it easily fits on your countertop, and holds compostable bags that can then be tied up and placed in your compost bin when the caddy is full. A smart lockable lid helps to keep moisture and odours inside, and the simple design makes for easy cleaning when the product needs a refresh.
Consumers will love how easy the product is to use, and how compact the product is for the kitchen.
What We Like:
- Compact design
- Simple and easy to use
- Comes with 20 compost bags
- Lockable lid for odour control
What We Don’t Like:
- Product is made from virgin plastic
- Odour control may not be as effective as similar products
Compost Bin Buyer’s Guide
Buying a compost bin is a great move towards reducing the 5 billion tonnes of waste (equivalent to 1 in 5 shopping bags) created by Australia alone, every single year.
But not all compost bins are created equal, so how do you choose the right one for your needs and lifestyle? Is style a factor? Does the size need to work with specific living arrangements? Is pest-control important?
Take a look at these important considerations to help you choose the most effective compost bin for your needs:
Size Matters
With compost bins, size really does matter. If you’re planning on placing the bin in your kitchen, you need to make sure it will be compact and fit, without stealing all your space.
If you create a lot of food waste, you need to ensure the size of the bin reflects that too. The same goes for the bin fitting into a specific area of the garden.
Check the measurements of where you need the bin to fit, or get an idea of the capacity you require, then check them against the product specifications.
Who Will The Odour Impact?
Odour control is always a good thing with compost bins, but it can be less of a priority in some cases. If you live in a condo, especially with others, you’ll want the foot waste smells neatly kept inside the bin at all times.
If you have a smallholding or a big yard, you can afford to have a slightly more odorous bin and add worms, because you can place the product well away from your home. Look for innovative odour control options like lock-down lids if it is a priority for your needs.
How Much Of The Work Do You Want Your Bin To Do?
Some bins are designed to create a near complete product for you to use, whereas others require mixing, special additions and other maintenance to get the best end result.
So if you want to get stuck in with your own compost tending, a more basic but well designed product will work well. If you’re looking for a product that does the most work, look for smart designs with as many convenience features as possible.
Aesthetics & Green Kudos
A practical product is a great product, but there’s nothing wrong with wanting a bit of style and substance.
If the product is going to be on view in your kitchen, it makes sense to choose an attractive design. As long as it does the job you need it to, why not have a smart, eco-friendly product that also looks great as part of your overall kitchen aesthetic?
When it comes to buying a compost bin, it comes down to how involved you want to be in turning your food waste into nutrient rich soil. There is a product for everyone out there. Just be sure to buy something that matches the effort you’re willing to put in, so that your new accessory doesn’t end up being another bit of waste in your home.
Compost Bin FAQs
Compost bins are a popular way to turn household waste into nutrient rich organic matter that can be used on your garden. Composting involves collecting organic matter such as garden waste or food scraps and storing them in a moist environment. Over time, the materials break down and turn into a material called “compost”. For the composting process to work, it requires four key elements: carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and water. Depending on what organic matter is already in your compost, it may benefit from a further addition of nitrogen or water.
Almost all organic matter will work well in your compost bin. Grass clippings, leaves, food scraps, cardboard and non-glossy paper, even pet-hair, are all great additions to your compost. The main items to avoid are animal products, including meat, bones, dairy, and animal droppings.
