For most people, it's prudent not to put any meat or meat-related product <?a>(drippings, for example) in compost. Meat will decompose in compost, but it can also cause problems in small compost piles, etc.

I wish we did some sort of composting where I am, but in NYC apts, it's just not that feasible.

Gardener's Supply Company usually has a nice selection, along with compostable liners and carbon filters. Is that site too hippie for you, blue? ;)

Thanks for the idea about the wine corks. Never thought of putting them in there. (They're just bark! duh!)

Here is a link that might be useful: Gardener's Supply Company Compost Pails

I have the SS bucket which you can see on the far right of my sink wall. I do have a compost bin outside which handles all my leaves and appropriate kitchen, houseplant & garden waste. We have a mulching lawn mower so we don't collect the clippings and I use it to collect my leaves in the fall which reduces raking. In this pic you can see two cabinets waiting for trash pullouts which are backordered. One will be for trash with a rollout on top for my compost bucket. The second will hold double bins for recyclables (paper & cans/glass) with a shallow pullout for newspapers.

Maybe this is a good place to mention that not all #2 plastic containers are recyclable--usually only those with a neck smaller than the body. Berry & yogurt containers, even though marked #2 should NOT be recycled. Your municipality can be charged if a load is overly "contaminated" with unwanted products.

Hey SmilingJudy--We are posting at the same time! I just jumped back to add that my SS bucket came from Gardener's Supply and was quite reasonably priced. I like it because I can throw it in the DW.

Judy (too!)

I was going to mention Gardener's Supply as well as they have more reasonably priced ones and many options. I am familiar with their selection as they are right here in town.

Some areas can now compost yogurt containers. Here in Burlington VT they added yogurt containers, blister packs etc last year.

-Robin

We store a clear plastic bin with a tight-sealing lid inside of an attractive old stoneware crock on the countertop. It's nice because the bin is so easy to rinse out.

I just use a big plastic container with a lid, stowed under the sink, next to the recycling. No need for anything fancy: this is the same type and size of container that I use to hold a 5lb bag of flour.

Like fisheggs, I agree it's easy to clean out. And it's lightweight, so easy to take out to the compost pile. Compost is easy - if you're interested, check out the Soil, Compost & Mulch forum at GW.

I use a Folger's container. It is usually left out by the cutting board, but I'll put it under the counter if I'm having a shindig.

I use a pleasant bowl and it gets emptied every day. I found that crocks didn't work well for me as the size and the lids pretty much created the smells. I was far more likely to forget about the crock contents until it resembled refrigerator science project. Ewww!

We aren't permitted to recycle tub shaped plastic of any number - just 1 to 7 marked plastic with a neck.

I like the repurposing solutions a lot but I wanted to buy a few new toys -- uh, I mean accessories -- for my kitchen. I had been using the empty salad container du jour and just hated its clear ugliness. And I freely admit that lining it with a plastic bag is not the greenest solution, but I do recycle the bag and I can't stand handling science experiment slime :)

jaedwards: "One will be for trash with a rollout on top for my compost bucket."
Can you please post pictures when they're done?

I'm planning to do that also, however, I'm not 100% sure how to 'work' it so that it's easy to access.
Right now, I have a Rubbermaid plastic cake holder (turned upside down), so that I can EASILY open the lid and put in my compost. I'm concerned that if I put the compost container in the trash cabinet, I'll have to open the trash door or drawer, then open the lid to the compost container, making it a 2-step process, which will deter DH from using it.
I think someone mentioned celticmoon uses some restaurant container in her drawer. Did anyone ever designed something to open the lid when you open the drawer/cabinet?

We just started composting this past May w/ an Earth Machine for kitchen scraps (along w/ soaked shreadded cardboard egg cartons/shredded paper, etc), and a large wire container for yard waste and leaves. We have TONS AND TONS AND TONS of leaves in the Fall. It takes us about 3months to rake it.

thanks,
Amanda

I have the Lee Valley SS compost pail (like Blue it was a treat to myself for my new kitchen- always used ice cream or popcorn buckets before). I use the compostable bag liners- I do find I dump the contents out of the bag into the compost and throw the yucky bag in separately.

Blue you may find you like the compostable bags better than plastic, no need to clean them out!

Here is a link that might be useful: Lee Valley compostable compost liners

go to the web site www.naturemill.com they offer a small 'electric' composter that is only 12' wide x 20 tall x 20' deep....should fit everyones need that lives in a small home or apt.

I'm very big on "Reuse, Recycle, Do Without" and even bigger on composting.

I remember that earlier discussion on composting containers that occurred after my cabinets -- including my trash -- were designed. But I lusted after the drawer with the restaurant pan to peel directly into. Happily, I found that a small restaurant pan nested into my recycling can.

The recycling isn't messy so it doesn't gum up the bottom of the composting pan. I felt very lucky to get this to work out when I hadn't planned for it.

BTW, my veggie prep area was always planned to be above the trash so I can stand in one spot and clean, chop and toss with every thing I need at hand.

The compost pan in place:
{{gwi:58157}}

Recycling exposed:

BTW, those can liners are reusable, washable nylon so we don't toss plastic every day.

I tried the compostable plastic bags and I am not in love with them. It was great when it was time to empty the compost pail, however my finished compost has plastic bags in it. It takes them a lot longer to break down.

-Robin

At one point in my composting history I used brown paper lunch sacks that i put on the pile at the end of each day. They compost completely and even add a "brown" to all the "greens" we generate in the kitchen. In the summer when fruit flies were an issue I just kept the bag in the fridge.

In a single day they didn't get smelly or leak through. I just got tired of making the trip every day and switched to something that lasted me 3 or 4 days.

blue, I should take a picture of my (late) Grandma's compost jar up at the lake cabin! It is just a plastic container from the grocery store back in the 50's with a lid from a pan she no longer used. It sits next to the big single sink in the kitchen. We would put egg shells, coffee grounds, vegetable peelings and food scrapings, etc. in it and once a day run it up to the woods where Grandpa had a worm bed. Afer Grandpa passed away we used a long terra cotta tube that was sunk several feet into the ground, again with another lid from a long lost pan.

Grandma would probably laugh to think of a store bought container for compost! But of course that kitchen is never going to be featured on the FKB or William and Sonoma, either.