The Best Compost Bin for Beginners: 7 Great Options Compared

When you are new to composting all the information can seem quite overwhelming. Thankfully we have a complete guide to beginner composting that you can check out. Choosing a compost bin is one of the first steps to turning your kitchen waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer for your garden. There are various compost bins on the market, but with so many options it can be hard to choose the right one. We have you covered with our top bins for beginners In this article, we will cover:

Before we get into more details, let's take a look at our top picks for the best composting bins for beginners.

Our top 5 picks for the best compost bins for beginners

Like so many people nowadays, you are probably super busy with all of life's demands. You don't want to take the time to research all the different composting methods and the composting challenges that come along with them. Here's a list of our top 5 recommended compost bins to make it even easier to get started.

1. Best beginner countertop compost bin: Lomi kitchen composter
2. Top outdoor compost bin for beginners: Aerobin 200 insulated compost bin
3. Best worm composting bin: Worm factory 360 composting system
4. Best compost tumbler: IM4000 compost tumbler
5. Simplest indoor bin: Utopia stainless steel compost bin

 

 

7 best composting bins for beginners: indoor & outdoor

Of course, you can easily make a compost pile in your backyard, if you have the space. But not everyone has a large enough outdoor space for a compost pile or wants to deal with potential pests, so compost tumblers or a compost bin might be a better option. Now that you've seen a few options, let's look more in-depth at what makes each compost bin a great option for a beginner composter.

1. Bamboozle bamboo compost bin

 

If you are looking to reduce waste, this little compost bin is made of eco-friendly materials, is great for your kitchen scraps, and can also be composted at the end of its life. It doesn't have a lot of storage so it is better used to collect your food scraps before transferring them to a larger bin.

What we like	What we don’t like
Transports and dumps waste easily Odor free Dishwasher safe	Not very durable Small capacity Pricey for the type of compost bin

 

2. Lomi Kitchen Composter

Want to be able to compost with the push of a button and have finished compost in a matter of hours? Lomi, an electric composter, can make that happen. Throw your food scraps in, push the button, and you get nutrient-rich dirt in less than a day!

With Lomi, the composting process doesn't have to be a stinky, long, drawn-out process. The dirt you are left with is great for your garden beds and houseplants alike!

What we like	What we don’t like
Easy to use Fastest way to compost your food waste Odor free	Uses electricity Could be small for larger families Sells out fast

 

 

3. IM4000 compost tumbler

 

If you have outdoor space but don't want an open compost pile stinking up your backyard, this compost tumbler is for you. It has a large capacity with multiple chambers so that you can have one chamber of fresh compost while the other you can continue to add composting materials, including yard waste.

What we like	What we don’t like
Has a large capacity Can be used indoors and outdoors Multiple chambers	Requires a lot of space No filters Assembly required

 

4. Worm factory 360 composting system

 

As far as worm bins are concerned, the worm factory 360 is a great kit for beginners. You can stack and fill each tray individually so you can create layers of compost that finish at different times. As you fill the layers with kitchen waste, the worms will move up the levels to work on the next tray. You can also collect liquid fertilizer or compost tea from the spigot on the bottom while the worms do their thing.

What we like	What we don’t like
Doesn't take up a lot of space Odor free Comes in a few different colors	The lid doesn't provide a tight seal Need space for the extra trays when starting Only small worms can be used

 

5. Bokashi compost bin

 

Using a bokashi compost bin is a quick and easy way to compost your food waste. Fill the bin over two weeks, add some bokashi bran (included), and then wait 2 more weeks for the finished compost. While you will have to wait a little longer to use this fertilizer in your garden soil because it is highly acidic, it is still a much quicker way to compost than other compost methods.

What we like	What we don’t like
Composts food waste quickly Makes a great soil amendment Odor free	Only composts food waste Slightly large for small spaces Need to bury compost before using in garden soil

 

 

6. Utopia stainless steel compost bin

 

Indoor compost bins don't have to be smelly and attract pests like fruit flies. The charcoal filters and tight-fitting lid on this stylish compost container keep odors in and unwanted pests out.

What we like	What we don’t like
Odor free Stylish design Easy to transport waste	Can't produce compost alone Small capacity Hand-wash only

 

7. Aerobin 200 insulated composter

 

If you have the space to compost outdoors, but you don't want to have an uncovered compost bin that might attract pests, the Aerobin is a great option. Its large capacity and durability make it the ideal choice for families that produce a lot of organic waste. This compost bin even collects compost tea at the bottom that you can use to fertilize your plants while you wait for usable compost.

What we like	What we don’t like
Large capacity Durable Insulated and aerated	Doesn't work well in winter Requires manual turning of compost Made out of plastic

 

 

Top 5 composting tips for beginners

Now that we've narrowed down what kind of compost bin you want to use, it's important to know some of the dos and don'ts of composting. It isn't as simple as just throwing your coffee grounds, grass clippings, and other composting materials in a pile in the backyard and magically making usable compost. Here are some composting tips to get you started composting.

1. Know what to compost and what not to: Not all of your kitchen scraps can go into your compost bin like bones, dairy products, fats, etc. Knowing what you can and can't compost is important to having a thriving compost pile for your plants.
2. Balance your brown and green materials: You need to have a good balance of green and brown materials. Green materials are nitrogen-rich materials like coffee grounds, egg shells, fruit and vegetable peelings, and grass clippings and need to be balanced with brown materials which are carbon-rich materials like dead leaves, sawdust, wood chips, and cardboard.
3. Chop up your food scraps: Chopping up your organic waste, like your fruit and vegetable scraps, helps speed up the decomposition process. It makes it easier for the beneficial organisms to do their job and get you finished compost faster.
4. Use an electric composter: An electric compost bin like Lomi is a great way to make indoor composting easy and fast. Lomi uses heat and humidity to break down a wide variety of food scraps in a matter of a few hours.
5. Turn your pile often: Turning your compost often ensures that you are getting enough air into your pile. Depending on the composting method you choose, the frequency you do this will vary.

Whether you are looking to cut back on your waste or want to ditch chemical fertilizers and make your own, composting can be a rewarding experience. Lomi can make it even more worth it since it requires little effort. Users love how convenient and beginner-friendly Lomi is to use. Now you know your compost bin options, so get out there and start composting!

Written by: Sarah Kendal