Indoor electric kitchen composter turns organic waste into compost in 48 hours

KALEA is an indoor electric kitchen composter that turns organic waste into garden-ready compost in just 48 hours. The process is automatic and uses an activated carbon filter to make it completely odorless.  

In recent years, with the rise of urban gardening, at-home food recyclers have emerged, aiming to turn waste to fertilizer. Fertilizer in this case usually means that these machines just dry and grind up food waste, but no actual biological decomposition occurs. The output has no immediate effect on plants and takes weeks to become nutrient-dense compost. If it gets rained on (or watered) there's a high chance mold will grow.

To solve this, German start-up KALEA has created the first of its kind indoor electric kitchen composter that turns organic waste into garden-ready fresh compost in just 48 hours. KALEA can take on fruit and vegetable leftovers, dairy products, cooked food, coffee grounds and even small bones.

Its efficient process is due to its two chambers: The first chamber shreds, dries, and stores material. The second chamber is a carefully regulated environment designed to accelerate the metabolism of the compost-creating microorganisms found in food waste. Sensors and an intelligent control system maintain the ideal temperature, humidity, and aeration to create nutrient-rich compost that helps plants grow.

The process is automatic and uses an activated carbon filter to make it completely odorless. In most cases, it requires no addition of water or other materials and uses the heat from composting to be energy efficient. An automatic hygiene function ensures the compost is harmless to plants and humans. The machine requires little maintenance, and compost can be stored for up to two years. Plus, its compact design integrates into any kitchen and comes with an app to monitor the process, get urban gardening tips, and more.