A common misconception is that you can’t garden and make your own compost if you are limited on space. That’s simply not true! Anyone can take small steps to living more sustainably. And that includes gardening and composting your food scraps — even if you live in a small space.
Take the first step by picking up a packet of herb seeds and try container gardening. Or, join a community garden where you can have your own plot to grow whatever you’d like. No matter how big your garden is, you’ll want to start composting. Compost provides a great source of nutrients to your growing fruits and vegetables. And it’s easier than you might think!
While you can build your own compost bin, there are plenty of ready-made compost bins to help you jumpstart the process. And some are even designed to work well in smaller spaces. Let’s take a look at four options.
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Mr. ECO Kitchen Composter
Does the idea of watching food compost make you a bit squeamish? Then the Mr. ECO Kitchen Composter with hideaway tumbler just might be the right choice for you. The patented lid locks in odors and hides food waste from your sight. Just dump your scraps in, turn the tumbler, and they’re gone. At 11 x 8.5 x 20 inches and weighing just 3.5 pounds, it’s small enough to place on a counter top. And it comes with mounting hardware so that you can hang it from the cabinet door under your sink. Note that the unit does use compostable liner bags.
Envirocycle Mini Composter/Compost Tea Maker
Unlike the Compostio and Mr. ECO, the Envirocycle Mini Composter is designed for outside use. But with a small profile at 19 × 18.75 × 21.5 inches, and weighing less than 14 pounds, it works well on small decks, porches, or patios. It has a 4- to 6-week compost time, so even though it’s a smaller composter, you can produce enough compost to nourish a small garden. And it comes fully assembled, so you can start composting your food scraps right away.
Compostio Indoor Composter
The Compostio Indoor Composter is a stylish composter that will fit right in with your high-end kitchen. Unlike traditional composters, the Compostio needs to be plugged in. The electricity allows it to generate enough heat to break down even meat, fish, and dairy. And you get your compost in just two weeks. Measuring in at only 20 x 12 x 20 inches and weighing 22 pounds, the Compostio is great for apartment dwellers and others with limited space.
Worm Factory Worm Composter
Vermicomposting is a great way to compost your kitchen waste as well. Worm castings provide rich nutrients for your soil. There are many vermicomposting systems on the market. The Worm Factory 360 by Nature’s Footprint has a profile that works well for smaller spaces. Measuring 17.9 x 17.9 x 14.9 inches, it can be tucked away out of site while it turns your food scraps into great compost for your garden.
Buy the Worm Factory 360 on Amazon
Feature image courtesy of Envirocycle Systems. Originally published on August 31, 2015, this article was updated in June 2019.