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Kitchen composter
- Easy to use
- Works indoors
- Produces compost every two weeks
- Can process meat, dairy, pet waste
- Expensive
- Uses electricity
- Slight noise
The NatureMill Plus XE Compost Bin is a machine that breaks down kitchen wastes with the help of bacteria and a small amount of electricity (about 5 kilowatt hours per month). Unlike other compost bins, it is designed for indoor use. The unit can process up to 120 pounds of food waste per month, but it must be fed regularly with sawdust pellets and baking soda. Finished compost drops into a lower chamber inside the machine and can be collected every two weeks. Both professional and user reviews say this machine is easy to use and produces good compost quickly. Most also agree that it controls odor well. Another benefit is that, unlike most composters, the NatureMill Plus can handle meat and dairy foods and even pet wastes. However, some users complain that it clogs easily and makes too much noise. Its high price tag is another drawback. Users looking for a less expensive indoor composter might prefer the Triformis Can-O-Worms (*Est. $120), a highly rated digester model that uses worms to break down kitchen waste. This model can be used either indoors or out, but experts recommend using it only indoors to protect the worms from extreme temperatures.
The NatureMill Plus XE is the subject of a single-product review at the environmental blog Treehugger.com and is discussed briefly in a Wall Street Journal article on indoor composters. We found few user reviews for the NatureMill Plus XE, but both Amazon.com and eco-retailer Gaiam.com offer reviews for the similar NatureMill Pro XE (*Est. $400), which works the same way but includes a few additional features. Online shopping community ThisNext.com also includes several user recommendations for both NatureMill models. The NatureMill was one of five composters to made the grade at the online retailer PeoplePoweredMachines.com, which claims to have tested over 20 composters before deciding which ones to offer, but the site does not discuss its testing methods.
Our Sources
A self-described "lazy" reviewer discusses her experience using an earlier version of the NatureMill Indoor Composter in her home. (It is not clear whether she tested the NatureMill Plus or the more expensive NatureMill Pro.) She says that the NatureMill does require a bit of maintenance and produces some noise and a faint "mushroomy" odor, but it greatly reduces the "yuck factor" of composting.
Review: Compost Conundrum: Backyard Box, Indoor Bin or a Can-O-Worms? (Part I), April Streeter, May 18, 2008
This article compares the NatureMill Plus (an earlier version than the XE) with one other indoor composter and two compost pails. The author describes how the NatureMill works and notes that while it does produce compost quickly, it is both "bulkier" and "pricier" than some of the other products reviewed.
Review: Easy-On-the-Nose Compost, Sara Schaefer Muñoz, Dec. 6, 2007
3. Amazon.com
Amazon has no user reviews for the NatureMill Plus XE, but it does have more than 35 reviews for the similar NatureMill Pro XE. Positive reviews rave about the NatureMill's ease of use, while negative ones complain that it clogs easily or breaks down completely. Several reviewers caution that it is important to cut all waste into small pieces and avoid overloading the machine.
Review: NatureMill Pro Automatic Composter, Contributors to Amazon.com
4. ThisNext.com
The NatureMill Plus XE and the related NatureMill Pro XE earn a total of 12 recommendations from this online "community of shoppers," though it is not always clear which model is being recommended. Consumers call both models easy to use and odor free. They also appreciate the fact that the machine produces compost in two weeks and can handle meat, dairy and pet wastes.
Review: Naturemill, Contributors to ThisNext.com
5. Gaiam.com
Gaiam does not carry the NatureMill Plus XE, but it does sell the NatureMill Pro XE. Five of the seven user reviews for this model praise its ease of use, while the other two complain that it clogs, makes noise and fails to transfer finished compost to its lower bin. Several users warn that instructions must be followed to the letter if the machine is to work properly.
Review: Indoor Cmposter, Contributors to Gaiam.com