Electric Composters: Greenwashed Energy Hogs
Sustainability has been hijacked by consumerist culture, and we need to be asking harder questions about what “green” or “sustainability” really means. Nowhere, at least presently, is this more evident to me than the rise of energy-guzzling, techno-fetishized gadgets that promise to make our lives more “sustainable”—while quietly increasing our energy dependence, and dependence on the extractive systems many sustainability advocates wish to dismantle.
A prime example of this is the Lomi “food recycler” or “composter” that burns energy to do something Nature already does for free! Composting is a natural process we can easily replicate, and even improve, with very little energy inputs.
So, how much energy does a Lomi really use? Well, it is marketed as an easy, mess-free way to compost food scraps. But let’s talk reality and look at the numbers:
Each cycle in Eco-Express Mode consumes about 0.60 kWh (600 watts used for an hour) of electricity.
Grow Mode, which is meant to create a more soil-friendly output, consumes 1 kWh (1000 watts used for an hour) per cycle.
A small family of 3 eating 2-3 meals per day will likely need to run it 7-12 times per week just to keep up with daily scraps.
That means:
4.2 - 8.8 kWh per week → as much energy as running a standard refrigerator for a week.
17 - 35 kWh per month → equivalent to powering a washing machine for 20-40 loads.
204 - 420 kWh per year → equal to a whole year’s worth of dishwashing cycles or a space heater running for 4-5 months straight.
For a device that is supposed to reduce our environmental footprint, this is an absurd and unnecessary level of energy use.
Composting has never been a problem that needs a technofix. Taking care of our organic waste has never been a problem that needs a technofix. Our convenience, throw-away culture is. These electric “food recyclers,” like so many other techno-fixes, are products designed to sell convenience under the guise of sustainability. The fact is composting is already a zero-energy, self-sustaining process that has been used by humans for millennia. Sure, we have to put some effort in, and that requires energy in the form of calories and thinking, but if we want to reduce food waste without energy dependence, here is how we do it instead:
Traditional Compost Piles! With some tending, Nature will break down your organics and food scraps for free, without the need for electricity, proprietary filters, or unnecessary gadgetry.
Vermicomposting! A simple, odor-free system that fits under your sink, in your basement, or somewhere outdoors convenient with weather is appropriate, and processes food waste far more efficiently than.
Community Composting! Many municipalities and community gardens accept food scraps for large-scale composting—no appliances needed.
We have to remember, electrification generally does not automatically mean sustainability, even though this is sometimes a narrative fed to us by marketing firms. We’re living through a cultural moment where every problem is met with an app, a device, or a subscription service—often using more energy, more materials, and more resources than the so-called "problem" itself. True sustainability is not about buying more tech; it’s about re-learning how to live within natural cycles and limitations.
Lomi and other techno solutions aren’t saving the planet—they are just more expensive, electricity-dependent shortcuts that reinforces our disconnect from natural systems. If we truly want to reduce our impact, we need to reject these greenwashed gadgets and embrace the simplest, lowest-energy solutions available—which, as it turns out, have been under our feet all along.
If you reside in the Capital District of New York, visit Zero Waste Capital District for local resources on composting by clicking here.