I've been composting for many years and this is the first time I bought a container actually designed for this purpose. Most recently I was using a covered stoneware container about the size of a countertop "sugar" container and it was just too small and had no handle. When the cat knocked the lid onto the floor and it shattered I decided it was time to invest in a "real" compost pail. I did a ton of research and read lots of reviews before choosing this product. It's exactly what I needed. It's large enough to hold several days of compost yet the opening is small enough to easily dump the pail into the outside compost tumbler without spillage. There's a filter in the lid which completely traps all nasty odors. The lid does not fit tightly, yet it's heavy enough to completely seal the container. Reviewers of similar products have complained that the lids on their pails fit so tightly they split or cracked and were difficult to remove. There were also complaints that the pails were difficult to clean and the finish came off nearly immediately. There is none of that with this pail. I wasn't too keen on the word "COMPOST" on the pail, but I have now decided that it's a great idea. I had helpers in the kitchen over the holidays and not a single person put food scraps into my coffee canister on the counter, which has happened in the past since nothing was labeled. The compost pail is now clearly identified and it's a great addition to my 190 yr old farmhouse.