If you're a frequent cook and entertainer, you've likely devised some means of handling food waste at home. Perhaps it's a countertop compost bucket or a large bag of scraps in the freezer that eventually turns into stock. As someone who cooks a lot and generates a significant amount of scraps, bones, and used coffee grounds, I've explored numerous ways to keep household food waste in check. Countertop bins, freezer bags, and sink-side five-gallon buckets initially worked well but became smelly and bothersome after a few weeks.

The Mill - The Ultimate Solution for Food Waste

Introduction to the Mill

The Mill has emerged as the one solution that has truly stuck with me. For the past six months, my food scraps have been directly deposited into the sleek cream-colored trash can beside the stainless-steel workbench in my kitchen. It can handle various types of food waste, including meat, dairy, and even bones, eliminating the need for pre-sorting. It operates quietly and unobtrusively, automatically processing household scraps on a schedule, ensuring no unpleasant odors. I can go about a month without emptying it, which is why I've been able to use it consistently for a long time.

How the Mill Works

The Mill is not a traditional compost bin; it's a "food recycler." It dehydrates and grinds food scraps, transforming them into a substance resembling dirt. It can handle up to 40 pounds of food and reduces the volume by around 80%. This means less waste to deal with, whether you choose to add it to your garden compost pile or take it to a local composting initiative. With a garden and an outdoor compost pile, I simply dump the Mill's contents into my compost whenever it's full. Although the dried, ground scraps still have a long way to go before becoming true compost, they will eventually enrich my garden. If there are local composting options like curbside organics bins or a community garden with a compost drop-off, the Mill's contents are easy to transport. And if there are no local initiatives or you're short on time, Mill offers large paper mailers for pickup by USPS, which then takes the food scraps to one of their partner farms to be used as chicken feed.

The Cost Consideration

The main drawback of the Mill is its price. Usually priced at $999, it is currently $200 off during Black Friday. Considering the money I've spent on ineffective food scrap solutions that were messy and difficult to maintain over the years, I believe it's worth the investment. If the full price is a barrier, it is possible to rent a Mill for around $30 per month, although the sale offer does not apply to rentals. Despite the cost, the convenience and effectiveness of the Mill make it a worthwhile option for those looking to manage their food waste efficiently.