We Tested the Lomi Countertop Composter: Is It Worth the Investment?

It’s that time of year when you start reflecting on how to be a better version of yourself in the months ahead. As you finalize your resolutions, let us introduce a fresh idea for 2023: adopting more sustainable habits, particularly in the realm of eco-friendly practices.

To help with this eco-friendly goal, we present the Lomi countertop composter—a device some users claim is a game-changer in reducing the food waste sent to landfills. Developed by Pela, this innovative tool simplifies food waste disposal. With food waste accounting for about 24 percent of landfill trash, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and contributing to around 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, as estimated by the World Wildlife Fund, Lomi could play a pivotal role in helping reduce your carbon footprint this year.

Here’s what we found when we put the Lomi to the test.

What exactly is the Lomi composter?

Although it might sound like a Pixar character and look a little like something that pairs with your Apple products, the Lomi is a countertop electric composter made by a certified B Corporation, essentially meaning a for-profit business that has met the highest standards for social and environmental performance, and that uses its corporate platform as a way to do good deeds around the world.

Pela, the maker of the Lomi, previously established itself as an industry leader in compostable, plant-based smartphone cases and carrying cases for AirPods (also, the brand counts Jay-Z as an investor). Lomi, which retails for between $451 to $627 depending on which bundle option you choose, hit the market after an extremely successful 2021 crowdfunding campaign, and within roughly the last year, has already been used in more than 112,000 households.

Like some other personal electric composters on the market, the appliance is meant to simulate the composting process and breaks down food (as well as some consumer products and packaging) into a flaky, dirt-like substance (or nutrient-rich soil) in a very small fraction of the time it would take compared to using traditional composting methods. 

According to the brand, a Lomi can make the contents you put in it disappear in as little as three hours, with just the push of a button. It can take up to 80 percent of most food waste too, including stale bread and grain products, fruits and vegetables, meat, and more. The company also claims that the carbon-neutral product is energy-efficient, using 60 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy per 100 cycles, and those 100 cycles can add up over time, diverting about 220 pounds of food waste from landfills and preventing about 18 pounds worth of methane emissions.

After watching the promotional video and reading copious amounts of generally positive customer feedback on both Amazon and the product site, it still seemed too good to be true. To me, composting has always seemed gross, complicated, and like too much hassle despite knowing it was something I should be doing alongside recycling, avoiding single-use plastics, observing meatless Monday, and taking public transit when possible. I aspired to become a zero-waster but I just couldn’t get my hands to cooperate and follow my mind’s eco-friendly lead. But this? This I could handle as long as it made good on its promises. With that in mind, I reached out to Pela and requested a sample to test.

How the Lomi Composter Functions

The Lomi measures 16 inches in width, 12 inches in height, and weighs approximately 22 pounds—comparable in size to a large air fryer or toaster oven. Designed for placement on a countertop or table, it features two filter compartments that can be filled with activated charcoal pellets, an airtight lid, and a 3-liter pail with rotating blades that ensure consistent aeration of the food.

The unit offers three modes with varying processing times: Eco-Express, Grow, and Lomi Approved. Eco-Express is the quickest (composting within three to five hours), consumes the least energy, handles only food waste, and is ideal for those aiming to minimize food waste but not necessarily requiring fertilizer (though, according to the brand, the output from Eco-Express can be added to plants). In contrast, Grow mode transforms food waste into garden-ready compost but takes longer—between 16 to 20 hours—because it uses low heat to maintain vital microorganisms and bacteria; Pela recommends using fresh fruit, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and eggshells for the best results. The third setting, Lomi Approved, lets users include certain approved bioplastics, packaging, and compostable materials for breakdown, taking approximately five to eight hours to complete.   

Certain items should never be placed in the device, such as liquids, oils, non-organic materials, hard bones, un-popped popcorn kernels, human or animal waste, and styrofoam, among other things.

Using the Lomi is simple: just add waste into the pail. Once it reaches the fill line or has been sitting for three or four days, plug it in, select your mode, press the button, and let the magic unfold—a blend of engineering, physics, and biology. After three to 20 hours and a cooling cycle, the processed material can be disposed of in your green bin or garden, depending on the chosen mode. Then, rinse and repeat.

Lomi Composter: The Advantages

Pela sent me a unit along with the starter pack of charcoal filters and a set of LomiPods, which are mint-sized discs containing a special blend of probiotics that help break down food waste, control odors, and enrich the final product with added nutrients. This means the compost could end up as an even better fertilizer for your plants or garden. 

Unboxing and setting up the unit was incredibly easy. All the packaging is fully recyclable or compostable, which further highlights Pela’s commitment to sustainability. The setup process involved filling the two filter areas with the provided charcoal (which can be a little messy depending on your pouring skills), connecting the power cord, placing it on the counter, and plugging it in. The detailed yet simple instructions minimize any chance of error from the very first use.

I’ve been using the Lomi for about four months now, and honestly, I’m not sure how I managed without it. One of the best parts is the sense of satisfaction I get every time I add a new batch of food scraps and realize I’m now a composter. As a California resident, it also makes me feel good knowing that I’m complying with the state’s mandatory composting law that took effect in January 2022. (Other cities and states are considering similar laws, so depending on where you live, this might be another reason to invest in a Lomi.)

For the most part, the Lomi does exactly what it promises: it takes full buckets of food scraps like watermelon rinds, moldy cheese, banana peels, and more, and reduces them by over two-thirds in just a few hours with minimal effort. I kept mine on the kitchen counter next to the sink, making it easy to toss leftover food scraps into the bucket while washing dishes or during food prep. This also eliminated the need for a smelly container or multiple trips outside to the green bin. 

The two charcoal filters and the fitted lid worked wonders to eliminate unpleasant odors. I frequently had cheese, coffee grounds, and onions sitting in the bucket for a couple of days, waiting for enough scraps to fill it up. Despite this, I only noticed the smell when opening the lid to add more. The LomiPods are an added bonus, providing a microbial boost to the final product created in Grow mode, which is great for those who plan to use the compost in their gardens. 

The Lomi composter operates with minimal noise, which is a big plus for me. I used it overnight, and despite being a light sleeper in a small house with no closed doors—my cats insist on roaming freely at night—the sound never disturbed my sleep. The energy consumption is low, about a kilowatt or less, which I couldn’t officially measure, but my electricity bill didn’t increase noticeably, even though I used it regularly every few days.

The Lomi composter does tend to run longer than expected, especially in the Grow mode, where it once took more than 21 hours for a full cycle. As for the byproduct, it doesn’t retain the strong food smells one might expect. It’s not exactly fragrant, but it’s far more tolerable than something like a trash bag or the aroma of a summer restaurant. The final texture of the compost can vary based on what you put in and how balanced the green (food waste) and brown (yard waste or compostable items) materials are. For instance, when we added more water-heavy foods like melon or grapes, the mixture became overly wet and gloopy, reminiscent of a chunky olive tapenade.

Even when the compost wasn’t exactly soil-like, the process was still much more manageable than before California’s new organic waste rule came into effect. Previously, I had to haul spoiled vegetables to the side of the house to toss into the green bin, and that often became a smelly, pest-attracting mess. The bin would quickly become unpleasant, drawing flies and other insects.

Lomi Composter: The Drawbacks

Let’s face it—the Lomi comes with a hefty price tag, and you’ll need to replace the charcoal and pods over time, which can quickly add up. The frequency of replacements depends on usage, but Lomi recommends every three to six months. If you opt for a quarterly filter subscription when purchasing through Lomi directly, you can save on the appliance right away. The VIP bundle, which is currently priced at $627, offers the most value with a large number of filters and pods included. However, the cost might be prohibitive for some households.

Another downside is the cleaning process. For the most part, cleaning is a breeze thanks to a nonstick coating on the pail, allowing most contents to easily slide out or come off with a quick rinse. The bucket is also dishwasher-safe, but if you’re even a little bit meticulous (guilty here!), you may find yourself frustrated by the bits that get stuck between the blade and the bucket’s bottom. I resorted to using toothpicks, scrub brushes, and long soaks to get them out, but it was a time-consuming process. I’m sure some rogue broccoli stalks have found a permanent home in there.

At times, the lid can be a bit fussy, requiring some concentration to line it up properly or to snap it back in place. However, you definitely don’t want to leave it open when food is inside. Additionally, during a few uses, I noticed more noise than usual, like a persistent low groan with each rotation, as though the blades were struggling to stir the contents. This could simply be due to the pail being packed too tightly or the size of the contents. (The brand suggests cutting larger items like melon rinds into smaller pieces.)

Is it worth buying the Lomi Composter?

If you can afford the high price and have some extra space in the kitchen, the Lomi composter is definitely worth considering. Anyone with counter space, an electrical outlet, and the ability to press a button can become a composter with this device. It eliminates the need for a green bin or an outdoor compost bin. Plus, you’ll save time and avoid the challenges of weather-related issues that can arise with traditional composting methods. The Lomi also helps prevent the presence of flies, pests, or even maggots, which are often attracted to traditional compost piles by the smell and remnants of food.

Even apartment dwellers can take advantage of the Lomi. If you don’t have a garden or green bin and your only option is tossing the compost into the regular trash, this still helps reduce your carbon footprint. The decrease in waste volume and the absence of any odor means your trash bags won’t fill up as quickly, and you won’t need to take out the garbage as often. Additionally, the food waste that ends up in the landfill is already partially broken down.

Whether you’re using the Lomi to create nutrient-dense fertilizer for your plants or to significantly reduce your food waste (and thus your household's methane emissions), it provides an easy solution. It requires minimal effort to make a meaningful impact on your carbon footprint, which makes it a great way to turn a new year’s resolution into a lasting, positive habit that lasts well beyond January.

Still unsure if it’s worth the investment? Pela offers a 30-day, risk-free trial to help you make up your mind and see if the Lomi will meet your composting needs.

You can grab a Lomi either through Pela or on Amazon today.