Mio designs garden composter for Target

“Designer composter” sounds like a joke, but take a look: The design firm Mio has reimagined the humble receptacle as a sleek accessory arriving in Target stores this week. A vented lid sits atop two stacked bins where worms (not included) will turn kitchen scraps and shredded paper into soil. When asked why the polypropylene piece ($99.99) was not made with a material that’s more eco-friendly, Mio co-founder Jaime Salm said his firm was hired to work with the store’s existing vendors in China, and quality-control and cost constraints ruled out recycled plastic. The higher priority, Salm said, was to get the design -- the first composter sold in Target stores -- “in the homes and hearts” of people who now have another way to divert waste from landfills.

-- Craig Nakano