Reading the Democrat on Tuesday, I saw the headline about the tipping fees going up at the landfill. It's not a done deal yet, but that is just a formality at this point. The legislators already said the increase looks reasonable so it is just a matter of time.

With that in mind, now more than ever recycling and composting should be a daily occurrence in your house. Recycling is easy, set up a box for paper products, one for bottles and cans, and another for glass. But what about food waste? Welcome to the age of in-home composters.

We don't carry any of these products, and I am not endorsing any products, just letting you know what is out there to possibly lower your trash fees.

The ECO-2000 Plus Kitchen Compost Waste Collector has a 2.4 gallon capacity. The unit is large and durable enough to use effectively as a full indoor compost bin for low to medium waste producing families.

This composter comes with carbon filters that reduce any foul odors the decomposing waste may produce. The lid offers a tight seal too. It isn't the prettiest composter, but the compact size of this unit allows it to fit in most kitchen cupboards comfortably. The price of this unit runs between forty-eight to sixty-eight dollars.

The Worm Factory 360 Composting Bin has a four gallon capacity and the unit can handle a large load of organic matter and the compost produced from it is arguably the most nutritious, as it is produced by worms. I bet you never thought you'd willingly be inviting worms into your kitchen, but with this fantastic indoor composting unit you can safely bring these helpful creatures in to eat your waste. The worms will pay you back with super rich compost and “worm tea” that will help your plants to thrive.

Not to mention you will always have an abundant supply of red wigglers to go trout fishing. This system is based on the fact that worms are some of the most efficient composters available to us. This method of composting is called vermiposting and it has recently seen a huge increase in popularity as people seek better ways of composting their organic waste. The Worm Factory goes for around one hundred sixty dollars.

While researching composters, I came across something a little different, a Bokaski Composter. The SCD Probiotics K100 All Seasons Indoor Composter Kit with five gallon capacity. The unit doesn't produce foul smells and compost can essentially be used twice.

Bokashi is a Japanese method of composting that creates a nutritious “tea”, which can then be used to boost soil fertility for plants. However, the organic matter in the composter won't fully decompose, leaving remnants that must be dealt with. The bokashi method utilizes anaerobic composting: waste is fermented instead of being broken down.

This type of composting produces a slightly sweet and sour odor that isn't unpleasant and smells similar to beer or cider when done correctly. Since this composter uses the bokashi method, it can deal with waste that other traditional composters may not be able to, such as dairy products, meat and bones.

The process of bokashi fermentation is low-maintenance. So it is sure to score points with those with a limited amount of time on their hands and the fifty to sixty dollar price tag isn't too hard to take either.

Whatever you may decide, there are a lot of options on the market today that will help to reduce your trash fees and a few can help you become a better gardener.

Worm compost and Bokashi tea sound like a great way to natural biologics back into your soil, for both indoor and outdoor plants.