Compost system first-year cost estimator
Pick a method, volume class, DIY vs kit hardware, carbon bulk buy-in, nitrogen scraps assumption, optional thermometer/aerator, and yard bags you might divert. You get honest USD ranges for year-one hardware + consumables. No account. No email. Runs in your browser.
Complements the free compost-first order-of-operations. Numbers are typical U.S. suburban / farm-store / big-box street ranges (2024–2026); free leaves, pallet scrap, and HOA rules will move your number.
Your compost plan
Bin = common suburban start. Tumbler costs more, turns easier. Pile is cheapest if space + rules allow. Bokashi is a kitchen-side ferment, not finished soil alone.
Small-bin is the usual first real trial. Balcony alone rarely needs a systems PDF.
DIY assumes you can assemble and keep pests out. Kit assumes a consumer bin/tumbler plus usual tweaks (lid seal, rodent mesh).
Free leaves beat bagged chips. Buying all carbon is the quiet cost that surprises people.
Kitchen scraps are usually free. Bagged manure or “compost starter” packs are optional — not required for a working pile.
Useful if you care about hot composting. Skip if you only want slow passive breakdown.
Nice for stationary bins. Tumblers already spin; open piles often use a fork you already own.
8
Leaves/clippings you keep out of municipal bags. Shown as rough avoided cost — not cash in your pocket.
Honest signal: miracle overnight stays free doors. A 90-day trial means you will actually feed and turn.