A couple of lucky punters got the chance to trial the Odour Free Kitchen Compost Collector from Full Circle. This nifty tool provides an aerobic bench top scrap collector which, unlike sealed compost containers, allows oxygen to flow through the kitchen waste. This means that food decomposition is slower, drier and results in less mess, less odour, and the design keeps fruit flies at bay.
The compost collector uses compostable bags which can be lifted out and put into your compost heap, worm farm or into council compost collection facilities.
This is the tester’s verdict.
Jo in the Sydney suburbs.
What do you currently do with organic kitchen waste?
All our vegetable scraps and tea bags go in a bucket under the sink, then into the worm farm.
What did you think of the Aerobic Compost collector?
The most convenient thing about the compost collector is that it can sit on the bench top next to your chopping board and you can chuck veg straight into it. The lid opens and shuts easily and it didn’t attract fruit flies which is a bonus as we had a problem with that with our bucket system. On the downside I did leave the compostable bag in a bit too long on one occasion and we had a bit of leakage when I removed it. But that was my fault.
The first batch of compost I emptied out of the bag into the worm farm as I was worried it might not be great for the worms. From then on I put the waste, bag and all, into the worm farm. Two weeks later there is no sign of bags, so I think it has been eaten or decomposed, and there are still tonnes of worms in there, so I don’ t think it has done them any harm.
On the down side, If you run out of bags you can’t use it, so you need to be a bit organised and make sure you have some ordered.
Would you recommend it to friends?
The benefit of this compost collector over my bucket under the sink, is that it is a nice design, it doesn’t seem to attract fruit flies (although I trialled this in winter when they weren’t too bad) and you can leave it on bench top to make it easier to chuck your veg waste in. So for keen composters or worm farmers who have space in the kitchen I would recommend this product.
Emily in Inner Sydney
What do you currently do with organic kitchen waste?
We have a small bucket which we use to collect kitchen waste.
What did you think of the Aerobic Compost collector?
I have to wash out our current kitchen scrap collecting bucket quite regularly as it starts to smell. The aerobic compost collector created less odour and I didn’t need to clean it as much. The collector was a good size and held the waste of a family of four for several days.
Our kitchen is quite small, so it did take up a bit of room when placed on the kitchen surface. I would have preferred it if we had somewhere to stash it when it wasn’t in use, but that is more to do with the size of the kitchen than the product.
As well as being a positive in terms of reducing cleaning and odour, the bag system means you need to make sure you buy the bags on line. It would be easier if you could pick them up when doing the weekly shop.
Would you recommend it to friends?
It does provide a cleaner, less smelly solution than an anaerobic bucket system. For those who are passionate about separating their organic kitchen waste it is a useful product, providing you are organised enough to buy the bags on time.
