Reencle vs Lomi vs Sage FoodCycler: Best Electric Composter For UK Homes

Food waste is one of the biggest environmental challenges facing UK households. With limited outdoor space, tighter council collections, and growing interest in low-waste living, more people are turning to electric kitchen composters in the UK to deal with food waste at home.

But not all machines that call themselves "electric composters" actually make compost. Some devices simply dehydrate and grind food waste into a powder that looks like soil, but is not stable compost and can cause odour, mould, or even harm plants when added straight to your garden.

So, which electric composter is best for your UK home?

Below is a detailed Reencle vs Lomi vs Sage FoodCycler comparison based on science, real customer reviews, and independent testing. It shows why Reencle Home Composter is the only option in this comparison that produces a biologically stable, microbe-processed output suitable for your plants.

🥇 Why Reencle Is Different (and Better) For UK Homes

While Lomi and the Sage FoodCycler are essentially food dehydrators, Reencle uses real aerobic microorganisms (ReencleMicrobe™) to naturally break down food waste in a controlled environment. This creates a much more biologically stable compost-like output that is better suited to UK gardens, houseplants, and balcony containers.

Key advantages of Reencle:

1. Reencle makes real compost, not dehydrated food scraps

Electric dehydrators like Lomi and FoodCycler use heat and grinding to turn leftovers into dried flakes. Multiple independent sources confirm this output is not compost:

• The Guardian reports that many electric composters "dehydrate food scraps using blender-like blades and heat" but the material is not biologically stable like true compost.
• Independent reviewer Honestly Modern states: "Electric composters do not actually compost food waste. The output is dried-out, ground-up food scraps."

In comparison, Reencle uses microbes to break scraps down naturally. Penn State laboratory tests rated Reencle’s output 2.2-2.4 on a compost stability scale, meaning it is extremely close to mature compost. You can read more in this independent Reencle Prime review .

2. Odour-free, pest-free, mess-free for indoor UK kitchens

Thanks to its 3-layer carbon filter system, Reencle prevents smells even when adding meat, dairy, citrus, or cooked foods. This is ideal for UK flats and smaller homes where food caddies can quickly become smelly.

Dehydrator-style bins often:

• smell when the output is rehydrated,
• smell if processing fish or meat,
• attract pests outdoors if the output is not fully decomposed.

Reencle’s microbe-based digestion significantly reduces these issues.

3. Whisper-quiet operation under 28 dB

Reencle runs continuously at a noise level lower than a library.

By comparison:

• Lomi produces noticeable motor noise and grinding sounds.
• Sage FoodCycler operates with a noisy grinding cycle.

4. Works continuously, not batch-based cycles

Other machines require you to:

• fill a bucket,
• run a multi-hour cycle,
• empty,
• clean,
• repeat, and store food waste in the meantime.

During their cycle, you cannot add more food waste.

Reencle allows you to add scraps anytime. The microbes keep working no matter when you add food, which suits busy UK households who cook throughout the day.

5. Safer, plant-ready compost for your garden or balcony

Unlike dehydrated scraps (which often require weeks of soil curing), Reencle’s output is:

• much more stable,
• biologically decomposed,
• safer to use around plants sooner.

Even Lomi admits its output is not finished compost unless using costly pods, and even then results can vary.

6. Cheaper to operate than Lomi in the UK

Lomi’s standard cycle uses up to 1 kWh per batch, plus the cost of LomiPods, replacement filters, and accelerants.

FoodCycler uses similar energy and replacement filter costs.

Reencle runs at only 52 watts per hour, costing around £4-£6 per month for most UK households, based on typical electricity rates. You can see more details on the Reencle Home Composter product page.

Reencle vs Lomi vs Sage FoodCycler: Feature and Cost Comparison

For a quick overview, here is a side-by-side comparison of Reencle, Lomi, and Sage FoodCycler, including long-term costs for UK households. You can also see a simplified version on our Reencle vs Lomi vs Sage comparison page.

 

🌱 In Summary: Why Reencle Wins For UK Households

If your goal is to reduce food waste at home and create real compost, Reencle is the only electric composter in this comparison that:

• uses real microorganisms instead of just heat and grinding,
• creates stable, nutrient-rich compost-like material,
• runs quietly in UK kitchens,
• works continuously, so you can add scraps at any time,
• handles most food types, including dairy and small bones,
• costs less to run and maintain over time,
• avoids the common pitfalls of dehydrator-style bins.
• Dehydrators make dried food waste. Reencle makes real compost.

Ready to upgrade to a smarter way to deal with food waste in the UK? Explore the Reencle Home Composter or learn more about smart composting in our guide The Future of Home Waste Management .

* Lomi costs based on running 2 cycles per week using Lomi pods in each cycle. Filters = £24.25-£30 per filter, Lomi Pods £0.36-£0.44 per cycle, average cost filters = £27.13, Lomi Pods = £0.40 per cycle.

** Assumes electricity costs £0.24 per kWh.

FAQs: Electric Composters For UK Homes

Do electric composters like Reencle, Lomi, and Sage FoodCycler actually make compost?

Most electric composters on the market dehydrate and grind food scraps, which means the output is not fully composted and may still need further breakdown in soil. Reencle is different because it uses real microorganisms to biologically decompose food waste, creating a much more stable, compost-like material.

Is Reencle better than Lomi for UK households?

For UK homes, Reencle offers continuous composting, quieter operation, and lower ongoing filter costs than Lomi. It is designed to create a more stable, plant-ready output, which is especially useful if you want to use the compost in gardens, pots, or balcony planters.

Can electric composters take meat and dairy?

Reencle, Lomi, and Sage FoodCycler all accept most food scraps, including small amounts of meat and dairy. However, because Reencle uses microbes rather than just heat and grinding, the output is better processed and more suitable for use around plants after mixing with soil.

Is an electric composter worth it in the UK?

For UK households with limited outdoor space or restrictive food waste collections, an electric composter can significantly cut bin volume, reduce odours, and help turn waste into something useful. Reencle is particularly cost-effective over several years thanks to low electricity use and long-lasting filters.

How much does it cost to run Reencle in the UK?

Reencle uses around 1.25 kWh per day, which is roughly £0.30 per day at typical UK electricity prices. That works out to around £6-£9 per month for most households, making it one of the most economical electric composters to run long term.