CompostAll frog design (United States)  36 Comments
358Votes
Description 358Votes

The CompostAll is a replacement for the home in-sink garbage disposal, which allows food waste to be composted instead of sent down the drain.

Standard garbage disposals put a strain on municipal water systems - solid waste must be separated from water during treatment, and extra nutrients can cause problematic algal growth. However, composting keeps waste out of landfills and treatment plants, and reuses nutrients to enrich the soil in which we grow our food. The CompostAll works like a standard garbage disposal, but saves mulched food waste in a removable container under the sink. It provides a convenient, discreet, and odor-free location for food waste, and since the waste is already mulched, the composting process has a head start. An alert light on the sinktop power button signals the user when the container is full, and dual handles make it easy to carry and empty the contents to an outdoor compost bin. The CompostAll requires no change in behaviors in the kitchen - it works just like a normal in-sink disposal, while lowering the barrier to composting by providing pre-mulched food waste.

The CompostAll is an easy way to make composting part of any household routine.

36 Comments

1.Feb 19th, 2009Steven Gaffin

Although it is a interesting concept, an issue I have is non vegetable waste. You cannot dump animal biproducts and meats into compost unless the composter is specificly heated for the job. So I agree with a previous comment that vermiposting is a more effective source of composting.

2.Feb 18th, 2009Peter Thompson

I think this a great idea, and likely something several others have wished existed; I know I've pondered it's potential creation. You might want to investigate your geographic target market's plumbing codes. NatureMill IS intriguing and already on my wish list. CompostAll could have a home along side it, though. I imagine it would make for for faster compost.

3.Feb 17th, 2009Stan

This is interesting but the Naturemill is an even better choice because it actually does the composting, rather than just collecting the compost. Also, most of my compostables are not easily crammed down the kitchen sink drain (nor would I want to put my nasty rotting leftovers anywhere near my sink. Definitely check out Naturemill.

4.Feb 16th, 2009Gigi

What about dish soap/detergents? Would they interfere? Would the biodegradable, vegetable-based soaps be detrimental to the compost heap?

5.Feb 13th, 2009Gloria

I was hoping someone would invent one of these. I think this is a great idea but I agree it isn't clear how or if certain foods will be separated. Animal fats, meats, dairy are not suppose to go into the compost bin. If your a vegan this wont be an issue, but if you aren't how would this machine work.

6.Feb 13th, 2009Zoica

I love the idea very much, and I would get one tomorrow, since every day I cook and look at the amount of stuff I send to garbage disposal make me sad. It is a big step from DIY in a box outside..

7.Feb 13th, 2009Chelena

Red Wigglers still better option for household food waste.

8.Feb 12th, 2009Richelle

Great idea!

9.Feb 11th, 2009Tracy

Useful.

10.Feb 9th, 2009staacy

I've been waiting for something like this. I think it's a great concept. If you want a greener version, you could power it to a small solar panel in or outside a kitchen window. ....or some sort of hand crank.

11.Feb 9th, 2009wyliek

how is encouraging users to use the garbage disposal more often (using more electricity) greener? A bucket with a tight fitting lid holds smells in, is low initial cost, and no upkeep costs.

12.Feb 7th, 2009Lee

I really like this idea. But I'd want some sort of tube that would deliver the compost directly outside.

13.Feb 6th, 2009Simon B.

Nice idea. Will it smell? It seems difficult to get people to do the extra work. Not everybody has a compost, or other way of depositing this material.

14.Feb 6th, 2009fai

cool!! this will make composting an easy job

15.Feb 6th, 2009Kathleen

My disposal, which I hardly use, is dying so I need one of these immediately. I'm composting but I could use help.

16.Feb 6th, 2009nypster

great ideas requires alot of work... hope theres a followup for this one. earth-changing!

17.Feb 5th, 2009Rachel

Excellent idea

18.Feb 5th, 2009Chad

loves it

19.Feb 5th, 2009David Prokop

CompostAll is a nice concept idea, a person would need to be careful what items not to have ground up (meat, fish oils etc). If they would have prototyped this idea they likely could have improved it with venting or separators, as it is I think there would be contamination problems.

20.Feb 5th, 2009Barb Gauger

This would certainly be easier and less messy than the container under my sink which I have to take to the compost pile outside (especially in this great winter weather!)

21.Feb 4th, 2009Jonathan

Just don't put any meat scraps down the sink. Most people shouldn't be composting meat in your standard home compost bin.

22.Feb 4th, 2009Geoffrey Mosini

Some other comments point it well, anaerobic germs only get smelly, after a very long time mold gets a problem. I've got one small bin in a dry 20°C air, use it for ~2 weeks before emptying it, and no smell ! Other solution is earthworm compost, it's very efficient and reliable even in flat !

23.Feb 4th, 2009nicole

This is a great idea! I did not find this site until today, but just last night I was telling my husband how great it would be to have a composting garbage disposal. I think this would be great for people living in apartments who are trying to start their own small garden!

24.Feb 4th, 2009GNiessen

I think you want to have the storage container to have some aeration as anaerobic bacteria are usually the cause for bad smell in composting. It is also not clear how this product does the seperation of the waste and how it would not get clogged.

25.Feb 4th, 2009sybil

WANT! I tried composting before and found it to be a tad more work than I bargained for. I'd TOTALLY buy this!

26.Feb 4th, 2009Ed Earnhart

I'm a country boy. My parents had a much cheaper solution. Just keep a bucket with a lid under the sink. All waste is scaped from plates or foot preparation into the bucket. The lid managed the smell. The simple bucket under the sink is a better solution. No electricity, no plumbing, no smell, easy to carry to point of food prep.

27.Feb 3rd, 2009Suj

This is awesome! Extra convenient for folks who already compost. I wonder how it could be effectively marketed to people who are on the fence.

28.Feb 3rd, 2009Telegram

Perhaps you could partner this with a municipal composting plan, like the one in San Francisco: http://www.sfrecycling.com/residential/composting.php?t=r

29.Feb 3rd, 2009ChrisM

This compost will be pretty full of fats and proteins (the smell-making stuff). These are what are NOT welcome in composts because they attract and support rats, etc. In the UK we are required to separate these out for special treatment and would not let them near home compost heaps.

30.Feb 3rd, 2009george

nice design. I wanted to make one of these but true convenience has its price. I can not get any one else in the house to buy into separate plumbing so the disposer I bought sits in a box. Rachel is on the right track. Composting means I go twice as long before having to have my septic system pumped out. I am going to compost whether it is convenient or not. I am now back to using a small compost bucket in the kitchen, emptied to a bigger one on the back porch which in turn has to be h

31.Feb 3rd, 2009Ben Leonards

Very cool, and conceptually sound.

32.Feb 3rd, 2009Cathy Moanco

I love the concept, but what about smell? Food sitting in the garbage disposal begins to stink after 24 hours. What if it takes a month to fill this unit?

33.Feb 3rd, 2009Michele

Wow - hope this one goes into production, this is a terrific idea. I want one!!

34.Feb 3rd, 2009richard Gauger

Boy can we use this out here in the country. It would allow us to be holistic with our food waste and to capture the nutrients for plants outside.

35.Feb 3rd, 2009Rachel Kezia Alex

This is something I have been looking for. I t could be even better when it is full that there is a drain pipe that goes straight to the compost pit.

36.Feb 2nd, 2009Bart

Traditional garbage disposals contribute to a "mass composting" effort. Most modern wastewater plants are effective at processing organic solids into fertilizer products (known as biosolids), with advanced facilities also capturing methane for energ

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