We got given a council one a few years back but never used it. Like you, Nellie, I didn't like the idea much. Although that apple is quite cute!
We just have a load of really cheap paper bags and I grab one whenever I am preparing food. Veggie peelings etc go in, and then it goes straight outside to the food recycling bin. Any leftovers not being saved or any food that needs chucking - paper bag and straight outside. The only thing I do use is a teabag bin which gets emptied into a paper bag every couple of days.
I'm a bit of a closet greenie really. Well as near as you can get if you drive a 3 litre V6 engined car ... but I do have a genuine green argument for that. I won't bother you with it lol.
Anyway. I don't mind using the bin. It gets emptied regularly and I buy compostable liners. Mostly what goes in are veg peelings, stale bread and egg shells. There's next to never any cat food leftover as Alf is a feline food waste bin. I used to make my own compost at home but with five compost heaps on the allotment I just don't need one at home.
It has a wee charcoal filter in the lid to keep the smells at bay. I'm still using the compost bags inside. I reckon its about half the size so will need emptying more often. Half the size and a million times more cute!!
I've just found some "bump on" feet to put on its bottom.