Why throw away bits and ends that can be used to fertilize your lawn and enrich your garden soil? Almost any organic material can be used – composting is a spectacular way to recycle kitchen and garden refuse.

Composting can seem a serious endeavor, not for the faint of nose or easily distracted. Why? Because when I think compost, I smell odors – very strong odors – in my kitchen. But collecting scraps doesn’t have to be an unpleasant process, especially not if you have one of these attractive and compact containers that stand at the ready on your counter-top.

Leak-proof and odor free, this cute blue ceramic honey pot ($29.95) will hold up to 1 gallon of your composting ingredients in between your trips out to the compost heap. I also found one in stainless steel ($59.95) and white ceramic ($29.95). They come with a charcoal filter for odor, as well as 100% biodegradable bags that can be thrown into the pile as well.

So whatever your kitchen décor – country, contemporary or simply white – there’s a compost container created just for you.

Image: Plow & Hearth