Compost naturally generates heat. Chop fruit and vegetable trimmings with a knife or by running them through a blender or food processor. Check the compost after two months to determine if it is ready to use. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →. Once you've drilled your holes, find a good spot for your compost bin. This blends in air and distributes moisture, creating the perfect environment for the materials to decompose. Add water to the brown ingredients and stir them with the garden spade to incorporate the water throughout all of the brown ingredients. Sawdust has very high carbon content and dried leaves have considerably lower carbon content. Compost bins may be simple in design or fancy and complex. Anything you would throw in a normal compost pile can go in your storage container composter. 1. Plastic. can improve the moisture content and add nitrogen. For this reason, many gardeners create their own methods for holding compost out of lumber or by repurposing a container. Make sure the containers come with tight-sealing lids, as keeping your bin closed will allow the compost to retain moisture and protect it against the outdoor elements. Smaller pieces will break … Kathryn Hatter is a veteran home-school educator, as well as an accomplished gardener, quilter, crocheter, cook, decorator and digital graphics creator. How to Make a Compost Bin From a Plastic Garbage Can. Compost that has sufficiently cured is dark, crumbly and smells of the earth. Bins for a DIY Compost Tumbler. Repeat this two more times for a total of nine days of sitting time with stirring and watering in between. If you are concerned about compost messing up your gravel when you empty the bin, you will need to lay out a plastic sheet to keep the gravel clean when it is time to empty the bin. And crush leaves by running a lawnmower over them a few times. High carbon ingredients, or “browns,” include shredded newspaper, co… The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Stir the ingredients one more time and close the bin. Add more brown ingredients and green ingredients in the same ratio if your compost bin will hold more material. Types of compost bin. Free wooden composter plans with a hinged lid. Allow the compost bin to sit undisturbed for three more days and then open it and water the compost ingredients well. Every day or so, aerate the bin by giving it a quick shake. If you don't have much space to compost or just want to start on a small scale, consider making a compost bin from a plastic storage container. Decomposition is a natural occurrence, but composting speeds the process by creating an environment suitable … Manure has higher nitrogen content than kitchen scraps or grass clippings. A compost bin is a receptacle used to hold compost during the compost-making process. Add more brown ingredients and green ingredients in the same ratio if your compost bin will hold more material. Pour approximately 2 inches of green compost ingredients (the nitrogen content) to the compost bin. Leaves, fruit and vegetable peels, rinsed eggshells, paper egg cartons, coffee grounds, coffee filters, tea bags, shredded paper, paper napkins and towels, toilet paper rolls and grass clippings all work well. Our Quick Tips video guide outlines a few things to bear in mind before you go ahead. In cold climates, consider bringing the compost bin indoors to a utility area to continue composting through winter. The bins come in a variety of shapes, including flat sided, square and rectangular. This is an easy project that will give you finished compost in about three months. Or you can add a small amount of water, thoroughly mixing it into the compost. The boards are pressure treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA), which makes the compost bin … Add the brown compost ingredients (the carbon content) to the compost bin first. Make a compost bin using a plastic storage container. Many kitchen scraps can be composted, but don't add meat, bones, dairy, whole eggs, grease, or other animal-based scraps. Read more. Brown ingredients include dried leaves, sawdust, pine needles and newspaper. Adding green materials—grass clippings, vegetable scraps, etc. We keep finished compost in one bin, and the new pile in the other. The easiest way to harvest the finished compost from your bin is to run it all through a simple compost sifter. With single bins or barrels, that simply can’t be done. The compost bin is constructed from “five-quarter” (5/4) rounded-edge decking boards. Get Dirty. We went… You don’t have to spend a lot of money on this. Close the compost bin again and allow it to sit again for three more days. Before you choose a compost bin, you’ll need to decide if you want to use the conventional composting method or vermicomposting (worm composting). Regardless of the design, all compost bins serve the same basic purpose of holding the compost while it forms. Drill ⅛ inch sized holes every three inches along all four sides of the plastic containers. For security from dogs and other animals, it can be attached to pressure treated plywood, a concrete slab, or spiked into the ground. Saturate each layer with water as you add each layer. Continue drilling until you have rows of holes that span both the width and length of your bin. And the dark, crumbly finished compost can be stored in another container for later use or immediately spread in the garden. The compost should be ready for use after roughly three months. This durable, 100% recycled plastic compost bin holds 110 gallons of compost. Are you totally okay with the idea of making a much … Some bins tumble to redistribute the compost within the bin and some bins are stationary and a gardener must stir the compost within the bin. Once you have a plastic composter installed in your garden, they are relatively simple to use. Saturate each layer with water as you add each layer. Overview. Keep the compost bin enclosed for the next two months. Saturate the green compost ingredients with water. Made in Germany, the Eco King 110 Gallon Compost Bin turns kitchen waste into nutrient rich compost for your flower beds or vegetable garden. Repurposed Plastic Tote Compost Bin. Compost heaps can be designed to suit gardens of all sizes. Some composters cost more than $100, and you can make your own compost bin from a trash can in no time and save bunches of money, even if you have to buy a new trash can. This nutrient-filled liquid can be used as a fertilizer called "compost tea" in the garden. If the contents are very dry, use a spray bottle to moisten them. Both methods will produce rich compost for your garden, but the method you choose depends on your available space and lifestyle. How to Make and Use a Straw Bale Compost Bin, How To Make a Simple Compost Bin With Wire Fencing. A location that is near your growing areas and near an outdoor hose would be an ideal place to set up a compost bin. Stir the ingredients one more time and close the bin. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, Plastic storage bin (18 gallons or larger), Kitchen scraps, yard waste, shredded newspaper, and other compostable materials. In order to get the right amount of air into your compost pile, your compost heap needs to be a certain size. A bit of watering with rainwater and a bit of the leachate from the compost bin sorted it out. Open it once per week to stir the ingredients or rotate it once per week. Allow the compost bin to sit undisturbed for three more days and then open it and water the compost ingredients well. To turn the compost easily, give the bin a shake every one to three days. Continue adding more ingredients until your compost bin is almost full. A compost bin is a healthy addition to the garden. Once you’ve picked a plastic compost bin for your garden, all you need to do is start adding waste to it to get the ball rolling. Why Are My Worms Trying to Escape From My Composting Bin? Conventional compostinginvolves mixing organic waste in an optimum ratio of 30 parts carbon to one part nitrogen in the presence of moisture and air. You must have air circulating around your compost to help it decompose faster. When creating your compost mixture, most experienced gardeners try to create a ratio of 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen. Space another hole approximately three inches from the first hole. It really is the perfect solution when space is at a premium, and especially for those weekend gardeners who only need a little bit of compost to help their vegetables or flowers. Good-quality compost is sometimes called "garden gold." Cover the compost bin. These bins are inexpensive, but it is difficult to turn the compost, so it can take several months to produce compost. Space holes 1 to 2 inches apart, drilling on all sides of the container (including the bottom and lid). Stir the ingredients with the garden spade. By using The Spruce, you accept our, Tips for Composting With a Plastic Storage Bin, Saving and Storing Kitchen Scraps for Composting, How to Build and Use a Trash Can Composter, How to Make a Worm-Composting Bin From Plastic Buckets, How to Make a Compost Bin From a Trash Can, Compost Bins: What They're Used for, How They Work. Add one shovel-full of prepared compost to the bin to help the composting process begin. This plastic compost bin is made from 100% recycled materials and is designed to take up minimum ground space in the garden. Allow it to sit for two to three days and then open it. You will want your heap to be about 3 feet (0.91 m) tall, wide, and long. Or place it near your vegetable garden if you have one, so you can toss weeds or trimmings into it. The material they use is supposed to be safe, but after months and months of having microbes and bacteria eating at the inside while sitting in the hot sun, I wonder just how safe it really is. Thanks to its small size, it should fit on most patios, porches, or balconies. Consider putting it outside the door nearest to your kitchen, so you can easily compost kitchen scraps. For the same reason, never add solid waste from pets. The plastic compost bins are available in the market, and they are so expensive and now you can cut the cost of it by creating one of same style compost bin on your own. In fact, a second bin can be helpful to catch the liquid that leaches out of the first bin. If you don’t have a tote that you can use, hit up the Dollar Store or watch for those after Christmas sales. The site and container. Making a compost bin from a trash can is easy and can be done in about half an hour or less. So I have a couple of recommendations if you are considering doing this project. It always insures we have a working pile for new materials, and ready to finished compost when needed. Chop or break up any large pieces you intend to add to the compost unit. Continue adding more ingredients until your compost bin is almost full. Organic waste you can and … Any large pieces that still need to decompose can go back into the bin. Take your soil and dirt and sprinkle a layer on top of … Or add several moisture-rich items, such as fruits or veggies that are past their prime. Keep the holes a couple of centimetres apart — ideally you want to lace-up at least 2 mesh squares when pulling it tight. A composting tip: Wherever you dispose of the kitchen compost bin, whether it be a larger compost bin in the garden, or in an open space at the back of the yard, regularly water the pile and mix with a shovel to speed the process. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Our Quick Tips video guide outlines a few things to bear in mind before you go ahead. thick.) However, if your holes are large, consider lining the interior of the bin with wire mesh or hardware cloth to keep out rodents. Mix all of the ingredients well with the garden spade. It can also go inside a garage or storage shed if you'd rather not look at the composter. Otherwise, the compost might freeze, and decomposition will temporarily stop. Pour approximately 2 inches of green compost ingredients (the nitrogen content) to the compost bin. This will dry out the contents, and help to restore the ratio of greens to browns, which speeds the development of compost. Power up your drill. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! It doesn't matter what size drill bit you use. Take your poker tool and bore several holes, about 5–6" apart, down the length of the can and around the perimeter, from beneath the lid area to just before the base. Add one shovel-full of prepared compost to the bin to help the composting process begin. Turn an old plastic tote into a compost bin! Create a properly-sized compost area. But if the material in your bin is cool to the touch, it probably needs a bit more moisture. Starting a few inches from the lid, drill a hole into the trash can. If the contents are staying very wet or are smelly, add some shredded fall leaves, shredded newspaper, or sawdust to the bin. (so if your council supplied bin is like mine make a different type of compost bin. Goplus Outdoor Composter. To provide this in a plastic bin, drill holes throughout the container. Repeat on all sides. Place 8 to 10 inches of brown compost ingredients into the bottom of the compost bin. Colleen Vanderlinden is a freelance writer and the author of Edible Gardening for the Midwest. These bins are thin-walled plastic, and may chip along the edges, especially during a freeze. (Although the name implies that these are 1-1/4 in boards, they’re actually only about 1 in. To make your compost bin, simply follow these directions. A Dalek Bin is a lightweight plastic compost bin, often made from recycled plastic, with a lid at the top and usually with a hatch at the bottom and no base. If the amount of material has decreased, add another layer of both brown and green ingredients to fill it up again. Commercial sifters are available, or you can create a makeshift sifter using a piece of wire hardware fabric with a quarter-inch grid. The simple and effective Eco King Compost Bin boasts a large capacity for a low price. On concrete If you must place your bin on concrete, remember to add a thin layer of soil to get it started. Food Waste Digester. It is important that the site is not subjected to extremes of temperature and … But having two bins also gives you a place to store finished compost to use as needed. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. As a regular contributor to Natural News, many of Hatter's Internet publications focus on natural health and parenting. Pour approximately 2 inches of green compost ingredients (the nitrogen content) to … Thinking of using a plastic dustbin to make garden compost? You can easily spend $100 or more on a high-end composter. Scroll for the most stylish, affordable kitchen compost bins we … If you have a rotating compost bin, rotate it. Plastic storage bins are widely available, and you might already have one in your home that you're willing to repurpose into a compost bin. Cathy Askia is a Master Gardener and member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board with over 30 years of home gardening experience. Green ingredients include kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, grass clippings and manure. If your compost feels warm, this is a good sign that the composting is occurring efficiently. Walmart normally … You want your bin to be able … Place some shredded newspaper or dry leaves on the bottom of your compost bin, filling it about 1/8 – 1/4 full. Most tumbling compost bins that you can buy are plastic. A compost bin is a receptacle used to hold compost during the compost-making process. The closer your compost ratio is to this recommendation, the faster the compost will form. Prepare the Bin. If the last 2 models were simply too small for what you have in mind, … Place your compost bin in a convenient location where you will easily be able to access the compost when it is finished curing. These can develop pathogens as they decompose in the compost bin, causing odors that attract rodents and other pests. But it can feel like you're spending actual gold if you purchase a commercial compost bin. I opted for a metal bin, just to be safe. Instructions Select a Plastic Bin. When we think of plastic compost bins, our mind automatically goes to the clunky black or … Complete this step outside, as the drilling can create a mess. Attach the paddle bit to the drill. 1) use as straight sided a bin as possible. Now let’s add dirt on top of your base. You can speed along the composting process by adding a handful of nitrogen fertilizer or commercial compost starter. All Rights Reserved. The bin should be no smaller than 18 gallons, and it must have a lid. Simply add your organic waste to the bin, where the moisture and heat will allow it to decompose faster, and over time, this will generate a fresh batch of compost. Plastic Compost Bin by: Gardener Ed I don't know what model you are considering; but on of the more popular models is the Earth Machine. Whatever you add to your composter should be chopped fairly small, so it will break down quicker. The bin is ventilated and includes a wind protective lid, feed opening and a handy flap to withdraw the compost from. This means that most of your compost ingredients should be brown ingredients, with just a little green ingredients added to facilitate decomposition. Position the Bin. For square bins you can use a combination of your drill and the existing aeration holes to thread your cable ties through the mesh and the plastic of the compost bin. You must have air circulating around your compost to help it decompose faster. Hatter has also had publication on home improvement websites such as Redbeacon. Composting process by adding a handful of nitrogen fertilizer or commercial compost first. To add a thin layer of soil to get the right amount of water, thoroughly mixing it the... Them with the idea of making a compost bin using a plastic storage.. And ready to use most stylish, affordable kitchen compost bins serve the same ratio if your compost is... Door nearest to your kitchen, so you can create a makeshift sifter using a bin... … Make a compost bin in a normal compost pile, your compost bin simply. Or break up any large pieces that still need to decompose can go back into the bin is a sign... In mind before you go ahead then open it and water the compost edges, during... Be stored in another container for later how to use a plastic compost bin or immediately spread in the other may simple. To its small size, it should fit on most patios, porches, balconies! 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