For many, the idea of composting conjures up a picture of smelly, insect-attracting, decomposing food leftovers. And although more people than ever are planting home gardens, taking the next step to composting can still be daunting.
Full Circle — a 2-year-old company with an ever-growing line of functional, eco-friendly products made from sustainable and renewable materials — has created two products that will make composting easy for everyone.
The Fresh Air Kitchen Compost Collector is an odor-free, attractive compost bin that's perfectly at home in any kitchen. Compact in size, this rectangular bin features an airway system that lets oxygen flow through the compost. This allows food to break down slowly so that food scraps stay fairly fresh until you're ready to dispose of them. And since the food breaks down slowly, it stays drier, so it won't attract flies or ants.
"At Full Circle, we create solutions for home products," said Danielle Beneduce, Full Circle's marketing and customer service representative.
With the Fresh Air compostor, "we managed to create something that will get rid of the problem of ants and flies," she said.
Fresh Air has a number of green features. Firstly, it's made from recycled plastic.
"We try to use recycled or recycled material wherever possible," Beneduce said, "without sacrificing the function."
Fresh Air comes with a stash of biodegradable bags, which Full Circle will offer as a separate product this fall.
If you think you don't have space for a compostor or live in a small apartment, the Scrap Happy is a great fit.
Made from flexible silicone, the wire rim of this nifty small bin hooks onto a drawer. You can then just scoop leftover food scraps into it. Don't want to leave it out? Pop it into the freezer. It will keep its shape and be ready to use after your next meal. It definitely makes cleanup less messy.
With Scrap Happy, you don't have to defrost your scraps before putting them outside in your compost. Just flex the bin and what's there pops out easily.
"We want to encourage people to be greener," said Beneduce. "For people who think that composting is difficult or complicated or have a yard that's too small, (these) make it easier to compost."
Both the Fresh Air Kitchen Compost Collector and Scrap Happy are dishwasher safe and affordable.
Both compostors are brand new so they may not be in retail stores yet. You can special order them locally at That Kitchen Place and at Tops Superfoods stores. They'll also be available in August at places such as Whole Foods and Bed, Bath and Beyond. You can also find them online at www.fullcirclehome.com.
An environmental journalist and blogger, Debra Atlas is reachable through www.Eco-hub.net or debraatlas@gmail.com. And be sure to catch Eco Trends on KSHA on Fridays around 3:20 p.m.
What you can compost:
Vegetables
Coffee grounds and filters
Tea and tea bags
Crushed eggshells (but not eggs)
Nutshells
Houseplants and leaves
Cardboard rolls, cereal and other boxes
Brown paper bags
Clean paper and paper towels
Shredded newspaper
Fireplace ashes (cold only)
Wood chips, sawdust
Toothpicks, burned matches
Cotton and wool rags
Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint
Grass clippings, yard trimmings
Hair and fur
Hay and straw
What you shouldn't compost:
Dairy products
Meat or meat products
Bread, cakes, pasta and most baked goods
Cooking oil
Diseased plants
Heavily coated or printed paper such as magazines, catalogs, and metallic printed papers
Rice
Weeds
Personal care products
Walnuts — they contain an aromatic compound toxic to plants
