Garden compost inoculum leads to microbial bioanodes with potential-independent characteristics

► Microbial bioanodes were formed at different polarization potential from compost leachate. ► Bioanodes performance did not depend on the polarization potential. ► The lower currents produced at −0.4 V/SCE were due to the electrochemical kinetics. ► The dominant species of the microbial communities were identical in all bioanodes. ► Biofilms formed at the highest potential contained more variety of redox compounds.