Skip to main content

Compost on your countertop with Food Cycler

compost countertop foodcycle screen shot 2014 02 28 at 4 23 53 pm
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Composting biodegradable food waste is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, but if you live in an urban area and don’t necessarily have your own backyard to start a  pile in, it can be a difficult thing to pull off. It’s possible compost in small batches indoors, but keeping a rotting container of organic matter in your house is usually pretty rough on your nostrils.

Unless, of course, you pick up something like Food Cycler: Home. Basically, this contraption is a compact indoor composting machine designed to accelerate the composting process while also keeping odors at bay. At the press of a button, the device sterilizes, deodorizes, and turns potentially harmful food scraps into safe, sterilized, organic compost. The byproducts of the process have been lab tested and approved for use as a soil amendment and accelerant.

Screen Shot 2014-02-28 at 4.29.46 PMAnd it can handle just about anything organic, including citrus rinds, coffee grounds, pits, bones, and even preservative-laden items like fast food hamburgers. To use it, you just deposit your scraps inside the compost chamber, close the lid, and hit go. Once the cycle starts, the machine uses a combination of heat and agitation to quietly sanitize the compost and break it down into smaller particles. It doesn’t require any water or the addition of any special chemicals, doesn’t need to be drained or vented at any point, and even comes equipped with a special filter to mitigate foul smells . All you need to use it is an outlet and about one cubic foot of counter space.

Food Cycler’s inventors are currently raising funds for their first large-scale production run on IndieGoGo, but even though it’s only at the crowdfunding stage, it’s still rather expensive. If you back the project early, you can snag yourself a Food Cycler for about $399, but if you wait around until after the IndieGoGo campaign is over, it’ll retail for around $499. That’s definitely a bit steep, but could be worth it depending on your living situation

Find out more on IndieGoGo

Editors' Recommendations

Drew Prindle
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…
Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs. Roborock S8 Pro Ultra: Which is the best robot vacuum?
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra placed in its dock.

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Roborock S8 Pro Ultra share a lot of similarities -- the least of which is their brand name. Along with the capacity to vacuum and mop in a single cleaning cycle, the two robots can automatically empty their dustbins and clean their dirty mops once the cycle is complete. That alone makes them two of the best robot vacuums on the market.

But while there are plenty of similarities between the S8 MaxV Ultra and S8 Pro Ultra, there are a few key differences that could make one better for your home than the other. From pricing and vacuuming power to navigational skills and more, here's a comprehensive look at the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Roborock S8 Pro Ultra.
Pricing and availability

Read more
How to fix a Ring doorbell that won’t chime
Person installing Ring video doorbell

While Ring does make some of the best video doorbells, they aren't immune to issues with their chime. This issue is, after all, at the top of the list when it comes to video doorbell problems. But, if your Ring won't ring what should you do? We break down the procedure to get your Ring video doorbell back in action, with a step-by-step approach to troubleshooting this issue.

Read more
Ring sale: Up to 44% off video doorbells and security cameras
The Ring Video Doorbell 3 installed near a door.

Buying a video doorbell or a security camera are among the easiest ways of improving your home's security, and Ring is one of the most trusted names if you're planning to get either or both of these devices. If you're interested, there's an ongoing Ring sale on Amazon so that you wouldn't have to pay full price. The available Ring deals include standalone security gadgets and bundles, and you can get as much as 44% off their sticker prices, but only if you hurry because there's no telling how much time is remaining on these offers.

What to buy in Amazon's Ring sale
Ring is a mainstay in our lists of the best video doorbells and best home security cameras because of the helpful features that they'll provide, including 24/7 live streaming through the Ring app, two-way audio to talk to visitors outside your front door or family members inside, customizable mobile alerts, and compatibility with smart home devices that are powered by Amazon's Alexa, among many others.

Read more