Fucillo’s composting bin for the freezer.

Though the step of separating recycling from our trash has been demanded and (relatively) well implemented for years, composting has been slower to catch on. One big de-motivator to bringing composting into our daily routines is a lack of resources, especially in urban areas. But some cities have finally leveled the playing field, facilitating composting by putting citywide programs in place. San Francisco, Minneapolis, Toronto, and Boulder all have curbside composting programs in place, and in San Francisco separating compost has been mandatory since 2009.

San Francisco bin system: compost (green), recycling (blue), trash (black)

Now that we city dwellers can walk out our doors and neatly dispose of separated trash, recycling, and compost bags, what’s stopping us? Food scraps can account for around 30% of the trash in landfills, and adding composting to our daily routines can hugely decrease our landfill impact—this should be a no-brainer.

One well-known deterrent is the perception that compost is, simply put, gross; the act of micro-organisms decomposing organic material can be some pretty nasty business, after all. Slimy fruit and vegetable pieces and parts, rotting, decomposing, and mixing together, don’t exactly make composting the most enchanting chore. Those blessed with outdoor space and gardens can accept the “ick” much more easily than urban dwellers, with outdoor compost bins and the added benefit of seeing the results of their hardwork in their own gardens.  The simplest answers are small, out-of-sight counter bins that keep your rubbish airtight and out of sight before you take it to the curb.

The company RSVP International makes several simple designs of “compost pails.” The functional and subtle bamboo, stainless steel, and ceramic pails look nice enough to sit on your counter while what’s inside goes undetected. Each has a plastic liner, lid with vents, replaceable charcoal filter in the lid to keep odors contained, and handle for easy transport to the curb or backyard compost bin.

RSVP International’s Bamboo Compost Bin

Designer Chris Kirby produced a more artistic take on the issue with the “Compost Vase.” The two-part ceramic vase can be used for scraping food waste into while cooking or as a bone dish on the dinner table, and then regally stands on end. Kirby hopes his solution “affords an esteemed treatment of food waste collection.” The well-considered white ceramic ‘vase’ puts a new perspective on what we think of as ‘trash’ and how we deal with it.

Chris Kirby’s Compost Vase

Fuccillo’s freezer bin, up top, offers a simple but unique approach to the compost container. Essentially a small silicone tub, the idea behind the bin is to collect your organic matter in the freezer, keeping it from rotting and stinking while in your home. It’s designed to fit into even small freezer/fridge combos. To empty, you simply pop out the flexible silicone bottom.

For those who still want to create their own compost in their kitchens and can afford to go higher-tech and automatic with the process, Nature Mill created indoor self-composting bins. Just plug in the motorized bin, scrape your leftovers into the top compartment, and push a button. The sealed tumbler breaks down fruits and veggies, but also meat, fish, dairy, and pet waste. A light indicates that the ‘dirt’ is ready to go within a few weeks.

Nature Mill’s Compost Bin

Though these examples go a long way towards making composting more appealing, there is still a need for design solutions that can make the process second nature for us all. Recognizing this, Quirky, a “social product development company,” partnered with online retailer Uncommon Goods to develop a new design for kitchen composting.

The result is Keiro, a “kitchen compost grinder.” Keiro adds an extra component to the airtight counter bins, basically allowing you to shred your food waste. The shredder boasts a sustainably-produced BioResin material and a replaceable filter. The grinding and breaking-down of the organic matter makes it more compost-ready, whether it’s headed to the curb for city collection or your backyard compost bin.

Quirky Keiro Kitchen Compost Grinder

We still have a ways to go before composting becomes as second-nature as recycling and taking out the trash. But, it’s nice to see the issue being dealt with in different ways, especially knowing that getting over our smelly food scraps and composting them can decrease landfill size and create nutrient-rich soil for plants.