Best Kitchen Composting and Food Recycling Companies (2026)

The best company for recycling ground and dried foods

Most kitchen “composters” simply grind up and dry food scraps, but the Lomi 3 does the best job of the bunch. I’m always impressed when companies listen to feedback and adapt, and the new Lomi model resolves some of the quirks and weaknesses of the now-discontinued Lomi 2. Gone are the multiple modes, the annoying twisting cap, and having to put clips directly into the machine. There is now a convenient 3-quart bucket that is 7.5 inches tall, just like the FoodCycler below; Easy push-button lid; Only two processing modes: Grow and Express. The Lomi 3 is also smaller and supposedly quieter than the Lomi 2, but my decibel meter found the difference to be negligible. One feature I liked about the Lomi 2 that was missing from all three is Lomi Mode, which can break the list of certified bioplastics, including Lomi’s own packaging. Lomi stresses that the new model cannot accept bioplastic.

Photo: Kat Merck

As with the Lomi 2, there’s an app for basic management, but I enjoyed not having to use it – press a button and the Lomi launches. When finished (cycle lengths vary from 3 to 16 hours, depending on the amount and moisture of the contents), it will chime a little, and you can either place the treated soil, which is very fine and looks like a Folgers, into your outdoor compost pile, and mulch your garden with it, or add it to the soil at a 1:10 ratio (1:15 if using meat/dairy). I also like that the Lomi 3 has a transparent cover, so you can see exactly where it is on its cycle.

It’s a lot of money to pay for what is essentially a grinder and dryer, which is why I generally recommend the Reencle above, especially if you want to create something close to compost. However, if you’re simply looking to reduce the volume of waste in your bin, or you live in an area subject to composting fines, the Lomi 3 is a thoughtfully designed, easy-to-use option that most people will be happy with. Note that my test unit originally came with the lid twisted off after several months, which allows odors to escape and attracts fruit flies. Lummi said the first batch of lids were made of defective plastic and she sent a new lid, but the new version also started warping after two months.

Another great recycling tool for grinding and drying

FoodCycler

Eco 3 compact kitchen food recycler

First, I appreciate that FoodCycler doesn’t even pretend to be composting. “The FoodCycler is a food waste recycling tool,” the company explained firmly before agreeing to ship a test unit. “Our primary goal is to provide a modern food waste solution to users who may lack access to traditional composting or other disposal options that are diverted from landfill. Therefore, the resulting byproduct cannot be classified as ‘compost’. Indeed, the FoodCycler breaks down food so quickly, and without any microbial intervention, that no one would think this was proper compost.” But if you are going to use a grinder/dryer, the Eco 3 makes more squeaking/creaking noises during operation than the Lomi 3 above, but it is still a great choice.

Photo: Kat Merck

Launching in 2024, the Eco 3 is a smaller version of the Vitamix FoodCycler FC-50 (read our full review here), featuring a larger 3.5-litre capacity and, according to the FoodCycler, better grinding capacity. At 11 x 9 x 13 inches, it’s small enough to place on a table or countertop, although the real convenience with this machine is its extra pail. Fill the neat 8-inch lidded container with scraps (in my house of three, this took about three days), and once full, swap the lids, put them in the machine, and press a button.

After a few hours, you’ll have a handful of “Foodilizer,” a “homemade soil amendment” that looks like finely ground dirt. In fact, the output is one of the most finely ground of any of these machines. There’s no assembly with this device (other than filling a filter with carbon granules), no app, no creating an account, no pods or tablets or choosing different cycles – you don’t even have to plug it in until you’re ready to use it.