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As of April 1, 2025, composting (which turns food scraps into nutrients) is now mandatory in New York City. Even if you don’t live in the Big Apple (and aren’t facing the threat of fines), this process is still an easy way to reduce food waste — we’re talking coffee beans, eggshells, and fruit peels — and takes the load off on the amount of trash you’re taking out each week. So, basically, everyone with a kitchen — and who cooks food in said kitchen — should be composting. And there’s no better way to do it than with a tabletop composter.
The Best Countertop Compost Bins to Buy Online:
Best Overall: Vitamix FoodCycler FC-50
Most Stylish: Emile Henry Burgundy Ceramic Compost Bin
Lightweight Pick: Bamboozle Countertop Compost Bin
Editor’s Choice: Simple Human Compost Caddy
Convenient To Carry: Norpro Ceramic Floral Compost Keeper
You may be loath to get another gadget that takes up precious countertop real estate, but these bins are worth it. Compost bins come in all kinds of varieties to make your kitchen a little greener. From minimalist bins that you can use to carry out and discard your leftovers outdoors (which is ideal for NYC residents since the new mandate is only requiring you to separate scraps from the rest of your trash) to worm bins and fully automated recyclers that break down the waste for you. There’s a composter out there for everyone. Here’s what you need to know when buying a home compost bin.
What To Consider When Buying a Compost Bin Online
There are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for a composter, so here’s what to look for.
Size:Consider how much space you have to work with and how often you’re willing to turn over the compost when you buy a bin. Smaller bins need to be emptied more frequently, but they’re significantly more portable if you have your own outdoor compost pile or can take it outside for compost pickup. Larger bins are more cumbersome to place, but also accommodate more scraps.
Odor:The material of your bin matters when it comes to keeping away pesky flies and unwanted smelliness. Stainless steel and other metal composters are long-lasting and won’t rust, but also need to be cleaned out frequently for odor control. Plastic bins are the most common, and your best bet to beat the smell and spillage, but can be a little counterintuitive if you’re trying to reduce your overall plastic usage.
Worms vs. Liners: Kitchen compost bins can be pretty basic and easy to maintain if you just want a place to toss extra scraps while you prep your meals. But if you want to be a more hands-on composter, then worm bins allow worms (yes, live worms) to actually break down the waste and compost right on your tabletop. But they are high-maintenance (you basically have pet worms now), so getting a bin with biodegradable liners is a good in-between.
Now that you’re ready, here are our top picks for countertop compost bins below.
The Best Compost Bins to Buy Online
Vitamix FoodCycler FC-50
$208.18
$399.95
48% off
Buy Now On Amazon
The granddaddy of all composters, Vitamix’s food recycler is a high-tech step up from just placing a bucket on your kitchen counter. This is by far the quickest and easiest way to transform food waste into fresh fertilizer, all with the touch of a button — all you need is one cubic foot of space and an outlet.
So, how does it work? The recycler uses heat and breaks down food waste into a tenth of its original volume, so you can then add it to a worm bin or outdoor composter or put it out for collection. We also love that it has a carbon filter lit to eliminate odors, so you can store more food scraps until the bucket is full (that being said, reviews say there is a bit of a cooked food smell when the recycler is actually at work, but nothing too noticeable). The 2L capacity is great if you cook at home a lot or have a big family, and it’s particularly good at grinding down tougher scraps like chicken bones and eggshells. One cycle takes around 4-8 hours, but it runs pretty quietly, so you’ll hardly even notice that you’re helping reduce waste as you futz around the kitchen. Just throw the FoodCycler in the dishwasher to clean it out, and you’ve got one of the easiest ways to go green.
OXO Good Grips Easy-Clean Compost Bin
$22.99
Buy Now On Amazon
Sleek, compact, and lightweight—what more can we say about this minimalist composting bin from OXO? Even though it only holds a few days’ worth of food, it’s only 8 inches wide and a little over a pound when empty, so you’ll get maximum portability for its price point. Another winning aspect of this bin? The lid flips down and locks, so it also locks up odors.
Simple Human Compost Caddy
$60.00
Buy Now on simple human
The best tabletop compost bins allow you to collect kitchen waste (except for dairy or meat; never compost those products) in a convenient way so you can toss it on a compost pile or take it to a collection center later. And this caddy by Simple Human does just that. Available in three colors and priced under $70, it’s easy to use and can attach to any wall or cabinet in your space for simple storage.
Emile Henry Burgundy Ceramic Compost Bin
$149.95
Buy Now on crate & barrel
This chic tabletop bin is simple but still effective. While there’s no aeration in the lid, since we’re not dealing with worms here, this is less of a problem. The rope handle allows you to take this bucket out to your garden without fumbling around too much. Its user-friendly, no-frills design also makes it a breeze to clean. No more digging in up to your elbows to scrub tough food scraps out. This bin’s smooth, rounded edges are easy to wipe down and disinfect.
Bamboozle Countertop Compost Bin
$39.99
Buy Now On Amazon
The best compost bins let you collect kitchen scraps as you cook indoors and don’t require the upkeep or skill of maintaining an outdoor composting pile (and bonus points: you’ll still get free fertilizer for your garden!) Rather than just tossing your waste in an open bowl, which can get smelly and honestly a little gross, countertop compost bins let you control the odor and collect all the scraps in one place.
This affordable countertop option is available on Amazon. It comes in a variety of colors, can hold up to eight pounds, and has an ergonomic, lightweight design that makes it simple to maneuver.
Norpro Ceramic Floral Compost Keeper
$39.99
$43.99
9% off
Buy Now On Amazon
A compost keeper that doubles as decor? We wouldn’t blame you if you added this to your cart immediately. This ceramic option is great if you have a smaller space to work with (i.e., everyone who lives in NYC, where the new composting rules just went into effect). It features intricate floral detailing, a convenient metal handle, and a pop-on/off lid that effectively seals everything inside. While the capacity could be a little larger (the standard model is shy of 3L), you can’t beat the affordability and design of this piece.
VermiHut Plus 5-Tray Worm Compost Bin
$87.99
$99.99
12% off
Buy Now On Amazon
When you don’t mind handling some worms but want to go big with your composting efforts, there’s no better large-capacity composter than the VermiHut Plus 5-Tray Compost Bin. This composter can break down up to five pounds of food waste a day with its five tiers of trays (and you can add on even more trays if that’s not enough for you).
A special component for the worms called the “M-board” gives it better airflow to let the worms compost more efficiently. That being said, if you’re worried that more air flow equals more smelliness, then the VermiHut Plus has you covered — coconut fibers are built into the air-vent lid to remove moisture, which means less smell and less of a chance of fruit flies ruining your composting vibes.
