This Compost Bin Is Cheap, Cute, And Will Help You Save The Planet

Who knew composting was so simple?

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You might think ~composting~ is a complex practice reserved for hipster farmers of the Pacific Northwest — but I, a lowly New York City rat, am here to tell you that it is NOT!

IFC

A measly $17 (the price of a single movie ticket in NYC) will get you this cute OXO compost bin that helps reduce the waste you send to landfills, while taking up barely any room on your counter or in your fridge.

Tom Vellner / BuzzFeed

It's 7"x7"x7", so it's easy to store in the back of my fridge, which, if I'm being honest, is never that full anyway.

All I do is keep this bin handy and toss in banana peels, coffee grounds, and food scraps from meal prep — things I normally would've thrown in the trash.

Tom Vellner / BuzzFeed

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, 20% to 30% of what we throw away is food scraps and yard waste, which could be composted instead — and kept out of landfills where it takes up space and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Here are some common things the EPA says are compostable:

* Fruits and vegetables

* Eggshells

* Coffee grounds and filters

* Tea bags

* Nut shells

* Paper

* Houseplants

* Cotton and wool rags

* Dryer and vacuum-cleaner lint

* Hair and fur

Then, once my bin is full (usually after a week, depending on how often I cook), I drop off the scraps at a farmers market near my subway stop, where they're sent to one of NYC's compost sites to be ~transformed~ into soil for urban farming and gardening projects.

Tom Vellner / BuzzFeed

A quick Google search should tell you where your nearest collection site is, but if you don't want to worry about dropping off your waste somewhere, you can also learn how to make your own compost at home.

I know what you're thinking: "Is this thing going to make my kitchen smell like expired egg salad?" And: NOPE. This bin must involve sorcery, because I haven't noticed a single odor emerge from it.

Tom Vellner / BuzzFeed

It seriously locks in all of the smells! So even if you're not persuaded by the fact that it helps save the planet we call home, you might want to get one so that you no longer have to put food scraps in your trash can that inevitably stink up your home — or in your freezer, where they're forgotten about for weeks on end.

It's really easy to clean, too, since the lid is removable and the bin is dishwasher-safe. Plus, the inside is smooth and doesn't have any crevices, to prevent buildup of mold and bacteria.

amazon.com

But don't just take it from me — this Amazon user, one of nearly 1,500 people who gave this bin four stars or higher, swears by it as well.

StayLaw / Via amazon.com

Promising review: "This compost bin is the perfect size and style for our needs. We have to keep our compost bin on our counter, so I didn't want something that was big and ugly. Many compost bins are designed to go under your kitchen sink but that wasn't an option for us. I wanted something easy to open and easy to clean. The lid on this is easy to use and it keeps the odor contained. The plastic is easy to clean and doesn't stain. The handle on top makes it easy to carry outside to the large compost bin also." —StayLaw

So, yeah, doing your part to help save the planet is easy as hell thanks to this lil' bin. All aboard the compost train, y'all.

Netflix

Get one from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in white and gray) or Jet for $19.99.

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Alison Krausman / BuzzFeed