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Composting success starts with the right tools. Whether it is a simple DIY container, a sturdy kitchen caddy, or a PFAS-free molded fiber option, choosing the right bin or bag makes organics diversion cleaner, easier, and more sustainable.
By Michelle Horneff-Cohen

Let’s face it, composting can be undeniably messy. Food waste accumulates, fruit flies become unwelcome guests and keeping everything contained can be difficult. This is where composting containers, bins, and bags come in—the unsung heroes of the composting game. However, with so many options on the market, how do you choose the best ones?

Choosing the Right Container: Bin or Bag?
The optimal container for collecting waste depends on several factors, including:

1. Composting Method: Will you compost at home in a backyard bin or tumbler, or use your municipality’s curbside collection service (where available)?
2. Frequency of Use/Size: How often will you add organic matter? If your kitchen produces a lot of food waste, you will need a larger container or commit to regular emptying.
3. Cost: Containers and tumblers can range from simple DIY systems to high-tech commercial options. Choose one that fits your budget.
4. Space Available: The size and type of container will be determined by the amount of space available, the composting method you prefer, and the number of scraps that you produce.

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Considering Your Container Options
Knowing how to select a container is essential. If you want to maximize your composting efforts, you must also be aware of the various bin and bag alternatives. Here we will discuss two main options: a ready-made kitchen caddy/bin (with or without a bag) or a DIY container.

The Kitchen Caddy
A Kitchen Caddy is a countertop container designed to hold food scraps until they are ready to be transported and discarded. They come in a range of sizes and materials (plastic, metal, ceramic, glass, etc.), with or without ventilation and filters.

Pros: Useful for keeping food waste contained, especially when liquid is not fully drained. Many are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.

Cons: Smaller caddies require frequent emptying (especially if you cook regularly). Larger bins may encourage waiting too long, resulting in odors, maggots, or fruit flies. Choosing the right size is critical.

Ventilated vs. Sealed Lids vs. Filters
• Ventilated Lids: Allow moisture evaporation, helping reduce fruit flies and odor when the caddy is not emptied daily.
• Sealed Lids: Reduce odors, but trap moisture, so the caddy must be emptied more often.
• Filters: Replaceable filters help reduce odors, but will not mask smells when the caddy is open.

Regardless of whether you use liners, caddies need frequent washing.

DIY Options
Not everyone wants or needs to buy a new container. If you prefer a low-cost or creative approach, do-it-yourself (DIY) solutions can be a simple and sustainable alternative. Many households already have materials that can be repurposed into scrap bins, keeping costs down and reducing waste:
• Upcycled Kitchen Caddy: Old canisters or coffee tins with lids can serve as inexpensive scrap bins.
• Wooden Bins: Build your own with ventilation holes and a cover.

Using Bags in Bins to Collect Waste
Liners are optional, but they can make handling food scraps cleaner and more convenient. The choice of bag matters: some are truly compostable, while others break down poorly or leave contaminants behind. Understanding the differences helps ensure your compost stream stays clean.

Biodegradable vs. Compostable vs. Paper
• Biodegradable Bags: Degrade slowly (often over years), may leave behind microplastics, and are not reliable for home composting.
• Compostable Bags: Designed to decompose quickly under the right conditions (usually hot composting above 55°C). Look for BPI certification, but note that not all will break down fully in a home system.
• Paper Bags: Break down quickly with moisture, but may leak during transport. Some contain coatings, inks, or glues that contaminate compost.
• Molded Fiber Containers: Break down quickly like paper but retain structure during transport. Look for products made from 100 percent pre-consumer paper pulp, free of PFAS, inks, glues, or toxins.

The Verdict: Convenience
The decision ultimately comes down to convenience. If that is your priority, select products that are:
• BPI certified, or
• 100 percent pre-consumer paper pulp, free from coatings and chemicals.

Alternatively, you can skip liners altogether and just rinse and wash your caddy often.

Start with the Right Tools
At the end of the day, composting success starts with the right tools. Whether it is a simple DIY container, a sturdy kitchen caddy, or a PFAS-free molded fiber option, choosing the right bin or bag makes organics diversion cleaner, easier, and more sustainable. When residents have simple, effective tools at their fingertips, composting becomes less of a burden and more of a habit, helping communities reduce waste, cut emissions, and build healthier soils. | WA

Michelle Horneff-Cohen is the Founder of Clean Composting Company and Creator of The Compost Collector®. With a passion for sustainable living and more than 25 years of experience in residential property management, Michelle saw, first-hand, the need to tackle inefficiencies in organic waste management. Driven by her vision for a cleaner, greener future, she leads the company in developing innovative, sustainable solutions that empower communities to compost with ease and confidence. For more information or bulk pricing options, contact Michelle at (415) 269-8803 or e-mail [email protected]. To order The Compost Collector®, visit .

References
Bokashi.Se. (2017, April 27). Bio-bags. Dead easy and a great way to do Bokashi. Bokashiworld. https://bokashiworld.blog/2012/02/11/bio-bags-dead-easy-and-a-great-way-to-do-bokashi
• Carry on Composting ~ Choice of kitchen caddy. (n.d.). Carry on Composting. www.carryoncomposting.com
• Schaye, M. B. (2024, May 21). Zero Waste Bags to the rescue | Collective Resource Compost Cooperative. www.collectiveresourcecompost.coop/blog/zerowastebagstotherescue?
• Waste collection – Storage containers and collection vehicles – Solid and Hazardous Waste Management. (n.d.-b). https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/esp11/chapter/waste-collection-storage-containers-and-collection-vehicles