Compost Genie Kitchen Compost Bin, White Stainless-Steel Large, 3.6 Gallon, Indoor Odorless Composting, Hands-Free, Washable Parts, Includes 8 Tear-Off Compostable Bags and 4 Carbon Filters

I was a bit concerned about this being too big, but I was wrong. It's incredible how much food waste accumulates in a week. Apple cores, grape vines, melon rind, avocado pits, chicken bones, egg shells, coffee grounds...well you get the idea. Originally, when my garbage company informed me that I needed to begin separating compostable items and combining them with green waste, I panicked. How would I store all the compostable materials until garbage day? There isn't enough room in the fridge to store it, and in the freezer I would forget about it. I didn't want it on the counter either, gross! It would stink, right? Ugh. And with the wildlife in the area, would it attract them to the bins? Do bears even like onions? I never had to worry about that as our garbage was in bags!!! Now I imagined the green waste bin full of leaves and compostable items, cooking in the sun (stinky) and attracting raccoons and bears to enjoy our leftovers. Then I stumbled across this Genie compost bin. It's perfect and is a welcome addition to the kitchen. You may be surprised once you start to use it and appreciate the capacity. As I noted above, once you start thinking about how much food waste you have, you'll see that the size is ideal. There are several features I like: 1. the step to open feature, hands free access so you don't need to touch it to open. 2. There is a slot on the underside of the lid for a filter - even with onions and several days of fermenting, it contains the stink well. 3. Easy to replace the bag after you empty it - if you use the branded bags! Bonus, the bags are compost friendly. 4. The top that covers the bag anchors is easily removable when you need to wash it. So glad I found this! If I could make improvements, I would have loved for this to be available in all stainless steel and to have rubber feet so it's less prone to movement.

I’ve been using the Compost Genie floor-standing model for a few weeks now, and it’s a game-changer for kitchen composting. The hands-free pedal makes it super convenient when your hands are full, and the carbon filter holder really helps keep smells under control. What I like most is the bag system—it keeps food scraps from touching the bin walls, so there’s way less moisture buildup (and no gross cleanup). The airflow design seems to make a big difference too. The size is perfect for a busy household, and the build feels sturdy without taking up too much space. If you’ve struggled with odors, bugs, or messy bins, this is worth considering. It’s not the cheapest option, but the functionality and cleanliness make it well worth it.

2nd UPDATE: Wish I could give no stars. Stopped using it & bought a Reenckle. Much better composter & WAY less mess! UPDATED: Lowered from 3 stars to 1 star. In theory, great product & accessories. In reality…not so much. The bags disintegrate way too fast for a 2 person household. Went to take the bag out to start my first compost & as I lifted the bag out of the Compost Genie, EVERYTHING fell into a catch tray at the bottom that didn’t catch even a quarter of the mess! It was easy to clean the unit. But had to be outside with a hose, then mop up my floor (which I do NOT want to do every time it’s emptied)! The air freshener pack did the job. We never smelled a thing! However, we did still get gnats…not good. We moved it outside, but would not buy again.

This product is okay and in some ways it’s quite good. Solidly constructed, simple, à reasonable size and easy to clean. Unfortunately I was comparing it to a Diaper Genie which seals the contents tight, no odors escape and it is easy to tie off the old bag and start a new one. It turns out this product just capitalizes on the name, but it is nowhere near as robust as a diaper genie. It’s really just a larger compost bag than the one I was using previously. I was a bit disappointed, but my expectations were high.

For years we ‘ve been looking for a compost bin that would meet the needs of a family of 4. No more small, sticky and smelly counter bin that gets full every day. We’ve also used a hanging bin for a while, but that was also a disaster with the bags slipping through, and the food scraps leaking in the bottom. Managing the cabinet door and opening the lid each time was also frustrating since your hands are always full. The Compost Genie has a foot pedal making it so easy to scrape waste from a plate or a cutting board. The bags are also the best we’ve used. Large, solid, no leaks…. I used to have to run outside to drop the bags in our municipal compost bin…hoping it wouldn’t leak all over the floors. Now, I am not going out as often because the bags hold so much, and second the Compost Genie bags are so sturdy, that I am not worried about leaks. I am so pleased with this new compost bin, it looks great, makes composting easier for everyone in the family and with the carbon filter we really can’t smell anything.