simplehuman's Compost Caddy helps to make collecting food waste less annoying

RRP at time of testing: £50 | Check price at Amazon, Dunelm, John Lewis or simplehuman directly

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My verdict

Food waste can be a bit grim at times, let’s face it - especially if it’s ending up loose in your main kitchen bin. But with the help of a decent food waste caddy, managing any food you chuck becomes a bit easier, and less smelly.

I’ve been testing a lot of caddies recently in an effort to find the best food caddy out there. Mainly because any council-supplied food waste bins aren’t necessarily the best quality at times. And with food waste collections expanding across the UK, I reckon it’s time to upgrade.

Enter: the simplehuman Compost Caddy. While plenty of food waste bins do the basic job well enough, this one feels noticeably more thought through. 

The brushed stainless steel finish looks smart without screaming “compost bin” and the magnetic hanging system keeps it neatly attached to the side of your main bin so you have easy access while cooking without cluttering the worktop. That said, it’s compact and tidy-looking enough to sit on your counter should you wish it to as it’s rather unobtrusive. 

Try to fashion, simplehuman's caddy is simple, modern and sleep in design

Over the course of a week, my family and I used it for everyday food scraps before emptying everything into our electric composter, and what stood out most was simply how practical it felt. The rectangular shape makes scraping food directly from a chopping board much easier too. We didn’t notice any strong smells escaping and because it sits exactly where you need it, it quickly became part of the kitchen routine rather than another annoying extra thing to manage.

At £50, it’s definitely expensive for a relatively small 4L caddy, and I still think that price will be hard to justify for some households. But compared to cheaper plastic alternatives, it does feel far more premium and much nicer to use daily. And you get compostable bin liners included. 

As a result, it’s one of those products that feels like it’s been designed by people who actually compost themselves - and that makes a bigger difference than you might expect.

How we tested the simplehuman Compost Caddy

My family and I have been using the simplehuman Compost Caddy in our busy family kitchen. For over a week we chucked in vegetable peelings, leftover food scraps and general compost waste before transferring everything into an electric composter.

During the week we’ve considered a fair few things, including: 

• How well it controlled smells

• Whether the hanging system is useful

• Ease of cleaning

• Day-to-day practicality

• Overall build quality

• Whether the 4L capacity felt sufficient for family use

I’ve also compared it against other food waste caddies we’ve tested recently, including the EKO Puro S Food Waste Caddy.

What’s the simplehuman Compost Caddy like to use day to day?

Honestly, it's very easy. The whole point of any kitchen gadget is that it becomes part of your routine and fits in, and that’s exactly what happened here. 

Unlike the EKO Puro S that hung from a cupboard, this caddy by simplehuman hangs onto the side of your bin so it’s always within reach while cooking. Plus, the rectangular shape means you can scrape food directly off a chopping board into it without bits bouncing everywhere.

That shape actually makes more difference than you’d think. Round compost bins can feel oddly awkward when you’re trying to quickly clear a food processor mess. Plus, this one is long enough to sit neatly alongside a sink or worktop edge and catches scraps easily. 

The lid opens smoothly, closes securely and overall it just feels thoughtfully designed.

Food waste can't be smelled - at least, we've not had a whiff during testing

simplehuman Compost Caddy: size and how it fits into your kitchen

At 4L, this is on the smaller side compared to some family food waste bins (EKO’s is 7L, for instance), but I actually think that works in its favour for most kitchens.

It’s large enough that you’re not emptying it constantly, but compact enough that it won’t dominate your countertop either - important if you already have an air fryer or other kitchen gadgets fighting for space. If you don’t want to use the hanging system, you could easily leave it on the side without it looking too bulky or intrusive or place it inside a cupboard.

The brushed stainless steel finish is also rather smart. Ours blended in well with a grey kitchen, but it’s neutral enough that it would probably suit most styles.

One thing I did wish for, though, was an additional cupboard hanging attachment. Because my kitchen bin sits slightly tucked down the side beside our electric composter, it wasn’t always the easiest position to access while cooking. A cupboard-mounted option closer to the sink would’ve suited our layout better.

Still, the magnetic hanging system itself works brilliantly and feels much more universal than some competitors’ mounting systems (or lack of).

I was worried the attachment wouldn't fit my EKO bin but thankfully, it does

Does simplehuman’s food caddy actually keep smells under control?

Yes, I think so. We tested it with the sort of food waste most people realistically deal with day to day - onion peelings, vegetable scraps from meals cooked in our slow cooker, leftover pasta from our pressure cooker, coffee grounds and bits of fruit - and never noticed any particularly strong smells escaping.

Part of that probably comes down to the lid seal, but I also think the smaller size helps. Because you’re encouraged to empty it more regularly, food waste simply doesn’t sit around festering for too long.

The included compostable liners are also a nice touch. Compared to EKO’s liners, which aren’t compostable, simplehuman’s feel like the more environmentally thoughtful option here.

I like the fact you get 30 compostable bin liners included

How easy is the simplehuman Compost Caddy to clean?

Very straightforward. The inner bucket lifts out easily, which makes emptying and rinsing much less annoying than some one-piece compost bins we’ve tested. The stainless steel exterior wipes down quickly too, although you will notice fingerprints slightly if you’re touching it regularly while cooking. We didn’t experience any staining or lingering odours during testing either.

simplehuman Compost Caddy: build quality and durability

This is where the price starts to make more sense. It feels solid and well-made in a way cheaper food caddies often don’t. The magnetic dock is strong, the lid mechanism feels smooth and sturdy, and overall it has that slightly heavier, premium feel that simplehuman products are known for.

Nothing rattles, flexes or feels flimsy. It’s also the sort of design that probably won’t date quickly. Unlike cheaper plastic caddies that can end up looking battered after a few months, this feels like something you’d happily keep visible in your kitchen long term.

The hanging attachment is magnetic and there's also a padded sticker for extra security

Is the simplehuman Compost Caddy easy to live with?

Yes, provided the placement works for your kitchen layout. I actually think that’s the biggest deciding factor with this caddy. If your main kitchen bin is somewhere convenient, the hanging system is brilliant and keeps food waste exactly where you need it. If your bin’s tucked away slightly awkwardly like mine, you may find yourself wishing for more flexibility.

Still, because it’s compact enough to sit directly on the worktop, it’s not a huge issue.

The fact it’s relatively small also helps keep things manageable. It never became overwhelmingly full during testing, but it also didn’t encourage us to leave waste sitting around too long either.

A note on the compostable bin liners: sadly these aren’t suitable for our electric composter. That said, we’ve been able to empty food waste into our composter and then put the used compostable bin liner in our outside hot box. So, either way, the system works in our house. 

It's ready to use out-of-the-box

Is the simplehuman Compost Caddy good value for money?

That depends how much you care about aesthetics and build quality. Strictly speaking, there are absolutely cheaper compost caddies that do the same basic job. But very few feel as polished or as thoughtfully designed as this one.

Compared to budget plastic alternatives from OXO or Addis, it’s noticeably nicer to use daily. The compostable liners are a plus, the hanging system works well and the overall design feels considered rather than purely functional.

Would I say everyone needs a £50 compost caddy? Probably not. But if you want one that looks good, feels durable and makes food waste management slightly less annoying, this is one of the better premium options I’ve tried.

Compare food caddies: simplehuman vs EKO vs OXO

Final verdict: is the simplehuman Compost Caddy right for your kitchen?

If you want a sleek, compact compost caddy that looks smart enough to leave out on display and helps reduce food waste hassle, the simplehuman Compost Caddy is easy to recommend.

It’s particularly good for smaller kitchens or households that want something discreet and tidy-looking without sacrificing practicality.

The biggest downside is the price, especially given the relatively modest 4L capacity. But if aesthetics, durability and thoughtful design matter to you, it does justify its premium positioning better than many competitors.

For us, it struck a really good balance between style and usability - and importantly, it never made composting feel like a chore.

About the author

Rebecca Roberts (aka Beccy) is our resident lifestyle expert with a practical focus on sleep, wellness and everyday comfort. She’s equally at home tackling frank, NSFW‑adjacent topics as she is road‑testing kitchen appliances, mattresses and vacuums that work for real parents. As a mum of two, she writes with the time‑poor, sleep‑deprived in mind - honest product reviews, realistic routines and products that make parents’ lives easier.

When she’s not at her desk, she’s probably product‑testing with her two helpers, corralling a PTA or walking her two dogs up and down country lanes.

About Mumsnet reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of hands-on testing. We never accept payment for coverage, and our verdicts are independent and honest. We may earn a small commission through affiliate links, which helps fund our work - but it never influences our opinions.

All prices are correct at the time of writing.

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