Bought a $200 'smart' compost bin that turned into a science project

I saw an ad for this fancy indoor composter that promised to turn scraps into dirt in a week with no smell, so I put it on my kitchen counter. After two months of following the app, adding special pellets, and dealing with a weird slime, I just threw the whole thing out and went back to my old bucket system. Has anyone found a simple home compost setup that actually works without all the tech?

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cole_miller6mo ago

I mean, that's why I just use a bucket under the sink. All that tech feels like a solution looking for a problem.

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christopher676mo ago

Yeah, but my bucket always ends up with soap scum and hair stuck to the bottom. The auto-empty on mine keeps the whole setup from getting gross. It's not about the tech, it's about not having to clean another slimy container.

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nancyd854mo ago

@cole_miller I have tried the bucket route too, but the problem is you have to stay on top of emptying it or it starts to smell and attract fruit flies. I finally switched to a simple countertop can that seals shut, it costs maybe twenty bucks and holds about a gallon. The trick is to line it with a compostable bag or even a paper grocery bag so you can just lift the whole thing out and toss it. No slimy buckets, no expensive gadgets, just a clean system that works. If you are really in a pinch, a plastic coffee container with a lid works great too, you can just throw the whole thing away when it gets funky.

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