[Summer Kitchen Waste Solutions] No More Odors or Flies! A Sincere Review of a $1,100 Kitchen Waste Composter That Was Worth Every Penny

There is something that plagues our household every summer.

It is the "odor" of kitchen waste and the "fruit flies" that gather there.

Even if I double-bag it, it still smells somehow, and keeping it in the house until the next trash day is stressful, isn't it?

And then there is the weight of the trash bag on trash day.
Kitchen waste containing moisture. And for a family of eight, at that.
I try to make sure it doesn't leak, but even so, just carrying it to the collection point is a struggle.

To solve those frustrations from the root, our family introduced a kitchen waste composter!

Choosing a model that fits your lifestyle

When I looked into it, I found that there are various types of kitchen waste composters, such as compost bins, bio-type, drying-type, and hybrid-type.

When I was a child, there was a time when we used a compost bin, so I wondered if I should put one of those out? However,

・Outdoor installation is prone to odors and insects.
・Recently, there is also the risk of attracting wild animals (wild boars and bears).

For the reasons above, I gave up on the outdoor installation type.
I narrowed it down to two choices: the "drying-type" or "hybrid-type" that can be used indoors.

Comparing the features of each, they are as follows.

Drying-type: The unit price is low, and processing is speedy.

Hybrid-type: Electricity costs are low, and the operating noise is quiet.

The biggest deciding factor was the byproduct after processing.
Drying-type models just let you throw it away as trash, but
hybrid models allow you to reuse it as compost.

It can be useful for my parents who garden as a hobby, and
above all, it gives me the satisfaction of contributing to a
circular society.
This was the deciding factor, and I chose the hybrid
Reencle.

The cost I was worried about, and the welcome subsidies

The price is 110,000 yen. Oh...
It's quite a luxury item.
But I decided it was worth the investment if it meant
eliminating my daily stress.

The good news here is the purchase subsidy programs
offered by many local governments.

There are all sorts of subsidies like this from cities and towns!
It might be interesting to look into what's available
before you make a purchase, don't you think?

Knowing or not knowing these little things
really changes your quality of life!

Real impressions after using it for 2 years

It's been almost two full years since I actually installed it, and to put it mildly, it's the best!

It manages to process the food waste for an 8-person family.
However, for more capacity, I think a larger machine
might have been better.

In terms of the environment, reducing food waste with high moisture content
leads to lower incineration costs and reduced environmental impact
for local governments. That's why I realized they want to promote it
even if it means offering subsidies!

Summary

Although the initial investment is significant, it has
completely freed us from the stress of food waste, and the vegetables at my parents' house are growing big, making it the best QOL investment for our home.
making it the best QOL investment for our home.

The microorganisms that work hard to process the food waste
start to grow on you the longer you work with them, and they actually start to look quite cute (lol).

It was by no means a cheap purchase, but
it is definitely a gem that I am glad I bought.
If you are interested, please feel free to
ask questions in the comments section.

Bonus

Self-introduction

Things you should buy with your bonus

Here are some other options