The Lomi Composter Review

I like devices and machines that can save me time and are good for the planet too. I saw that the Lomi was going to be on Indiegogo so I signed up to be an early backer. So now that I have my Lomi, let’s get into my thoughts about the product.

What is the Lomi?

The Lomi is a kitchen composter that says it gets rid of smelly compost and creates dirt that can be used in the garden or disposed of in a green bin or in the regular garbage.

Setting up the Lomi

The Lomi setup took about 15 minutes to setup because I was filming the steps. I imagine if I wasn’t filming it would have taken about 10 minutes or less..

• The steps in the package were simple to follow. It comes with two filters and enough carbon to fill the filters.

• I wish that it was more obvious to buy replacement carbon filters but I’m not exactly sure how to do this at the time of writing this. On the site, it says that replacement filters are sent out every three months as part of a Lomi membership. However, I’m not exactly sure how to get a membership or buy the filters. I will be sure to update if I do find out when I reach out to Pela.

• TIP; It’s advisable to wear gloves when filling both filters so that the carbon doesn’t discolour your Lomi parts.

Using a Lomi

• I find that the Lomi is easy to use. I have used all three modes :

  • Lomi Approved mode for breaking down approved plastics in about 8 hours

  • Grow mode for the best possible nutrient soil for plants

  • Eco express mode for the fastest breakdown of dirt

    I use the eco-express mode for the speed and the grow mode if I want something for the plants. However, I have only so many houseplants and it is winter in Ottawa so I find that the grow mode is less useful to me while there is snow on the ground.

    I tend not to use the Lomi Approved mode as often but it does breakdown the plastics really well. In fact, I used the plastic that came in the Lomi in one of the cycles.
    

    The Lomi is quiet enough so that it doesn’t disturb any sleeping people or pets. Sometimes in the grow mode it makes a squeaking noise while mixing the food around but nothing too outrageous.

    TIP: For the Grow mode, try running the material first through the Eco express mode then run it through the Grow mode. I find that the Grow mode sometimes comes out a bit wet if it isn’t pre-run through another mode. Watch out for pets becoming interested in your house plant soil after using the Lomi dirt with your regular dirt.

    What does the Lomi do really well?

• Breaks down food quickly

• Easy to use interface (press one button to start the Lomi)

• Fits a about one compost bin of food waste in the bucket

• East to clean (dishwasher safe)

• Doesn’t take up too much space

• Dirt that can be used in the garden

• Reduces waste volume

• Overall less smelly and gross than traditional composting (you still have to handle the compost at times if you have too much for the Lomi bucket)

  What could the Lomi do better?

• More nutrient rich dirt for the garden without needing to use the LomiPods. Currently, you should use the Grow mode with LomiPods (each Lomi comes with 45 tablets). It would be nice if the dirt was nutrient rich enough for plants in all modes.

• Less need for an indoor compost bin. I still use the compost bin to store food in case I have something that doesn’t go into the Lomi (e.g., chicken bones).

• Even less of a smell while the Lomi is breaking down the food. I find that the process of breaking down the food can smell faintly sweet (probably due to fruits). It isn’t unpleasant but it does make me aware of the process especially during the grow mode.

• Could be easier to learn. Not everything can go in the Lomi and only the Lomi Approved mode will break down plastics. I made the mistake of putting plastic into the grow mode which obviously didn’t work. There are also certain combinations of foods you should have (less sugary fruits with a mix of vegetables and sometimes paper). You also need to limit things like cooked potatoes which I didn’t realize initially but the Lomi was steaming more than usual and so I took another look at the manual and found out that cooked potatoes should be limited. To use the Lomi, you have to keep a general idea of what the machine will process when filling the bucket. It does eliminate some of the convenience of the machine.

• Less barrier to entry. The Lomi is expensive. Currently, the Lomi is being sold for $499 USD. The company acknowledges this and explains it is due to the proprietary nature of the product and the high standards of the working conditions for employees. I understand the reason behind the price but I would love to see a lower cost as the product evolves over time.

Overall Impressions

I really like my Lomi. I use it all the time to break down my food waste and it does a great job. I spend less time dealing with compost as I just dump it into the Lomi and hit run. I like that I’m doing something good for the planet too and it saves me time which is really important to me when the fatigue hits.

I would love to see Lomi composters in schools and offices and in residential homes. I would also love to see them shipped out to countries where there isn’t a green bin program.

If you do get a Lomi, let me know how you feel about it.