Compost machines break down food scraps much faster than traditional compost bins, which may take several months or longer to reduce waste to usable compost. They also can help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with food waste, by cutting down on the weight of material that needs to be trucked to either a municipal compost site or a landfill. Even discarding the output of a compost machine in the garbage (and not adding using it in a garden) may be a net reduction in reducing carbon emissions. These machines typically don’t take up a ton of space, and they use little electricity. However, some units can process only small amounts of food scraps at a time. In addition, they're much more costly than traditional composting methods, which can be done essentially for free. In addition, the finished product should cure for a minimum of a week (so you have to save it elsewhere in a bin) before being added to your garden. It’s also suggested to wait several weeks before planting seeds or transplanting seedlings to allow further breakdown of the scraps. Like a traditional composter, you shouldn’t place animal proteins, such as fish or chicken skin, in the machine if you plan to use it as a soil amendment. Finally, avoid adding high sodium foods, which retain sodium levels and affect plant growth.