This Bokashi Bin Claims to Make Compost in 2 Weeks: How Did It Do?
This sizable compost bin uses Bokashi, a material that helps accelerate composting, and even allows you to compost meat and bones, all at an affordable price.
Photo: Jenn Ryan
For serious indoor composting, the SCD Probiotics Bokashi Bin is a 5-gallon indoor composting container made of recycled plastic.
Unlike other indoor compost bins, this one is designed to actually break down compost indoors. Due to this unique Japanese method of composting, which contains an accelerator to ferment compost with beneficial microorganisms, your compost could be ready to use in as little as 2 weeks.
I tested the product in my home and recommend it for serious indoor composters because of its size, how quickly it breaks down compost, and the fact that it has a filter and spigot for compost tea built right into the container.
The brand, SCD Probiotics, was founded in 1998 by science student Matthew Wood, and it exclusively uses non-GMO, gluten-free, and dairy-free probiotic products. The company retains a deep focus on sustainability, using solar power to partially power their facilities, and has a goal to exclusively use post-consumer recycled materials.
Bokashi Bin: At a Glance
Photo: Jenn Ryan
Rating: 8.5/10
PROS
- Great size for frequent composting
- Has a spigot for compost tea
- Can compost meat, dairy, and bones
CONS
- Size may be too large to store under some cabinets
- Lid can be cumbersome to remove
- Have to add material from manufacturer to compost
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What Is the Bokashi Bin?
The Bokashi bin is an indoor composting container that’s unique in a few ways. Measuring 12 by 12 by 18 inches, this compost bin has a 5-pound capacity and is large enough to hold all kinds of vegetable scraps.
As a bonus, thanks to its fermenting Bokashi blend, the composter can turn kitchen scraps into high-nutrient compostable material in just 2 weeks. The blend is a mix of brown material (typically sawdust or a wheat product such as wheat bran) and microorganisms that break down organic matter.
The bin also comes with a strainer at the bottom and a spigot for compost tea, which is the liquid that compost produces as it breaks down. This liquid is highly nutritious for plants and can be diluted to water both indoor and outdoor plants.
Made from recycled plastic, the bin is small enough to fit under some kitchen cabinets, but it’s too large to place on the countertop, so it’s definitely not a countertop compost bin. You could also keep the bin outside or on a porch, wherever it’s convenient for you to deposit scraps.
Photo: Jenn Ryan
How Easy Is the Bokashi Bin to Set Up?
The Bokashi bin didn’t require much assembly to put together. All I needed to do was put the strainer in the bottom and open the bag of Bokashi, and it was ready to start composting. The bucket comes assembled with the handle already attached and a fully removable lid, as well as a spigot for compost tea.
Although the bin contained both written and visual instructions, they were unnecessary for setting up the compost bin. The instructions were helpful when it came to properly using the Bokashi to accelerate decomposition, especially since I’m new to the Bokashi method.
Is the Bokashi Bin Easy to Use?
The Bokashi bin is relatively easy to use, with the exception of the lid, which was cumbersome to put on and take off. Since the bin doesn’t have any type of odor control, it does require you to keep the lid on when not in use—and the lid needs to be firmly pushed down (with some force) to keep it on tight.
The bin also required the extra step of using the Bokashi mix on every layer of compost, but that still is less work than having to transport the compost outside every time the bin gets full, as is necessary with smaller bins. It also required me to be mindful of adding the material, since this isn’t something I am used to doing with indoor compost bins.
Another benefit to using this bin is that there’s no need for compost bags to line the bin. The bin won’t need to be emptied frequently, depending on how often you’re filling it, and since it composts directly in the bin, you don’t necessarily need to empty it into an outdoor compost container.
Is the SCD Probiotics Bokashi Bin a Good Fit for Indoor Composting?
I loved the Bokashi bin for indoor composting for a few important reasons, the first being its size. Although it looks large, if you use your compost bin as much as I do (about a dozen times throughout the day), it’s nice to not have to empty it as much.
The size, however, can be a drawback for people who have smaller kitchens and don’t have anywhere to store what’s essentially a 5-gallon bucket. The bucket did fit under our kitchen sink, but it was a tight fit, and since we use it so often, it wasn’t convenient to keep it there. To keep it out of sight, another option would be to keep it in a walk-in pantry. In my opinion, the bin isn’t attractive enough to sit out in plain sight.
The bin doesn’t have any way to control odor, although I didn’t notice a smell when keeping the lid firmly on. It was convenient to not have to transfer the compost to the outside bin—everything, including the compost tea, was ready to use right from the bin.
The difficulty of removing the lid and securing it once I was finished depositing food scraps detracted from the bin’s convenience. When cooking, it was easier to keep the lid loosely on as I deposited scraps and then firmly secure it once I was finished in the kitchen.
Photo: Jenn Ryan
Is the Bokashi Bin Good Quality?
This Bokashi bin is a good-quality composter. The bin seems durable and is not prone to cracking or breaking, and it is easy to maneuver, even when filled with compost.
However, as noted, the lid is a hassle to remove and to put back on when using the bin so many times per day, and that’s one of the only major drawbacks to this product. Since there’s no odor-control mechanism, it’s important to keep the lid firmly on when not in use.
The recycled plastic material is a nice feature, especially when considering eco-friendliness, and it’s sturdy enough to provide durability but not so heavy as to impede emptying the compost bin. I didn’t have any trouble with the spigot for compost tea.
Another pro to this product is that it comes with everything you need to get started, including both written and visual instructions that make it super simple to set up and start using your indoor compost bin.
Is the Bokashi Bin Worth the Money?
For such a large indoor composter that produces usable compost in just 2 weeks, thanks to its special fermenting method, the Bokashi bin is worth the price.
The regular retail price on the SCD Probiotics website is $49.95, and it includes a choice of color (tan or black). The product on the website also comes with a Bokashi spray instead of a Bokashi dry blend to use on the compost, which some people might prefer.
On Amazon, the product is a bit more expensive at $56.95, and you don’t get to choose your color. However, the bin comes with free shipping, compared to the $11 shipping offered on the manufacturer’s website.
This bin is virtually maintenance-free outside of some regular washings if you want to rinse out your compost container every once in a while. Otherwise, it does its job without much effort on your part.
Photo: Jenn Ryan
Is the Bokashi Bin Right for You?
The Bokashi bin might be a good fit for you if you’re tired of lugging and emptying your 1-gallon compost container outside every other day and rotating your compost pile every 2 weeks. If you want an indoor compost bin that can actually compost your kitchen scraps as you add the Bokashi blend, the Bokashi bin has a lot to offer.
With its ample size, the ability to make compost tea, and the chance to compost meat and dairy, this compost bin eliminates the need to maintain an outdoor compost pile. Instead, you can use the Bokashi bin to incorporate compost directly into your houseplant or garden soil.
Other indoor compost bins that I tested didn’t come close to the size of the Bokashi bin and didn’t offer the ability to actually compost kitchen scraps directly in the bin. The Bokashi blend to accelerate composting is an added bonus, as is the ability to use compost tea, another feature that indoor bins typically don’t offer.
If you’re an intermediate composter, lacking outdoor space for a compost pile, or just want to accelerate your composting, the Bokashi bin could be a good fit for you.
Where to Buy the Bokashi Bin
Get the Bokashi Bin at:
