The Gardener’s Corner: Green Cycler to compost bin

September 13, 2013 · 0 Comments

There have been times when I wished there was a pipe that ran from my kitchen sink directly to the compost bin below it outside. I’d send the vegetable scrapings, orange and banana peels and all that other waste sailing through to land in the pile and become black gold in a few months time.

We’re fortunate to have three big bins in which to compost the household scraps and garden waste, and as everyone knows, the smaller the pieces, the quicker it breaks down.

I was asked to review a new product that would make food scrap recycling a snap and since being designed for a kitchen, look good sitting on the counter.

The Green Cycler by Ecotonix was invented by Gail Loos, a woman inspired to create a product to feed her organic garden more efficiently. She felt composting was an inexpensive, practical and completely natural solution to many garden problems, and a step toward solving the current environmental crisis.

The appliance sits snugly on the kitchen counter by turning a lever to have the rubber feet grip the surface. Food waste is inserted in the top by lifting the clear lid and then shredded by turning the handle on the side. The stainless-steel cartridge system is self-contained and very easy to lift out for clean up.

The shredded material falls into a sliding drawer in the bottom that has an air-flow-wave design to optimize circulation and aerobic decomposition. There are built in retainers to hold compostable liners or bags. It is recommended after dumping the waste outside in a compost bin to wash the drawer, or it can be popped in the dishwasher.

Shredded broccoli, cauliflower and other veggies can leave an odor when left enclosed, so it is no surprise that this aspect too was thought of. A ZeoFilter fits in behind the blade assembly which contains a 100% natural, toxin absorbing compound called zeolite. The filter can be recharged by hanging in sunlight for a few hours to release moisture and any trapped odors. When it longer works, and a new one needs to be inserted, the old one can have the metal grommet cut away and the rest of the filter tossed in the compost pile.

After using the Green Cycler, I find the style suitable to any kitchen and it doesn’t take up any more room on the counter than the bin I was using before. The blades chop up the waste to a size more conducive for composting and the whole thing cleans up very easily.

The Green Cycler is available in some retail stores but I’d recommend going to their website http://thegreencycler.com for availability or to order directly from them.

The appliance itself is black but comes in variations with coloured handles to be unobtrusive or jazzed up.

Well, until someone invents a direct route to my compost bin, turning a handle to shred the waste and taking a drawer full of small pieces outside, is the next best thing.

By Judith Rogers