The compost pail makes you think of two things; one good and one bad. The good thing is that you have found a proactive way to go green. The bad part is that composting can be tiresome and smelly. Why not try an odor-free compost pail that hides in your kitchen?
Why Bother to Compost?
I feel strongly about composting. After hearing a couple of friends talk about it, I read a few articles to become educated-or semi-educated, because there's so much to learn! My enthusiasm grew from realizing how vital it is for me to play a role in conservation. And you don't have to be a master gardener to compost your scraps. Even if you compost on a small scale, your contribution still matters. Over sixty percent of household waste is compostable, but Americans compost only about eight percent of their trash!
Green, Not Mean!
When my husband began composting yard clippings and other matter found in our backyard, I decided to add my organic kitchen waste. It is a good way to recycle rinds, peels, and clippings from any fruit and vegetables that you normally would toss away. You can also compost your coffee grounds, tea bags, paper towels, and egg shells, all of which are bad for your garbage disposal.
Initially I used a simple waste pail, but it unfortunately drew fruit flies. If you've ever been bombarded by a mean horde of fruit flies, you know how impossible it is to get rid of them! The pail also smelled really bad. It hit me full force one day when I returned home from the beach. As soon as I walked in the door I realized the smell of my kitchen compost pail pervaded my entire first floor, and it was just plain nasty.
Odorless Compost Pails
Fortunately there are products out there to help you stay green without the mess and odor. You can buy an odor free compost pail that will sit on your countertop or mount inside the door of a kitchen cabinet. Most of them are manufactured from a recycled plastic or polyethylene material. You can also buy them in stainless steel or ceramic.
When they are made for use in the kitchen they usually run ten to twelve inches in height. Your choice really depends on whether you want to display your pail or not. All of them are easily cleaned, and the ceramic model can go through a dishwasher cycle. What keeps the odor at bay is a carbon filter that fits in the lid. As long as you keep the lid on, you will not notice any odor, and you will never have fruit flies! All of the models I looked at came with handles; I easily carry my pail outdoors and add the contents to my husband's compost bin about once a week.
Know the Difference
Do you know the difference between the terms biodegradable and compostable? Biodegradable materials essentially break down completely, no matter how long it takes, into carbon dioxide, water, and matter that can be recycled as an energy resource. Composting is a step along the way in biodegrading. It is a mixture of decaying materials broken down by bacteria that can be used as fertilizer, erosion control material, neutralizers of contaminated soil, weed control in mulch, and other purposes. It replenishes minerals stripped from soil by erosion or over-farming.
Your Tools Make the Difference
It is important to learn about composting, but it's also important to find the tools to make it easy if you want to stick with it. I know I wouldn't give up my odorless compost pail. The initial investment-you'll spend twenty to forty bucks, depending on the style you like-is well worth your contribution to the environment! And you'll be passing on good habits and knowledge to your children, the future caretakers of our world.
