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Learning how to make a compost bin is essential for creating a clean and practical garden. Fortunately, they’re pretty easy to put together!
How to make a composter? You can put one together with a variety of materials, including pallets, plastic buckets, or a fence wire. In fact, just look around your lot and check your garage for a good place to start. While you’re digging for materials, you can follow the tutorials in this blog post.
To make sure we’re on the same page: a compost bin (or composting bin) is a container where compost is created out of organic waste. The process can take anywhere from three weeks to twelve months.
There are three types of composting bins: indoor, batch, and continuous. The most popular are continuous composting bins, a type where you can add waste daily.
Composting saves you money, nourishes your plants, and helps the planet (since you produce less trash and decompose your waste in a healthy manner).
To start composting, all you need is an outdoor space, a few simple tools, compostable materials, and time.
How To Make A Compost Bin Out Of Pallets
Since wood is a natural material, it’s the ultimate addition to outdoor gardening projects. It fits basically any style of backyard and is safe to use.
(If any of the wood falls into the compost pile, it won’t pollute your hard work).
Step #1: Collect Three Pallets And Four Planks
The first step is basically a treasure hunt. The list of things you’re going to need for this project are:
- 3 pallets
- 4 planks
- 8 corner brackets
- 2 plate brackets
- 48 screws
- 8 nails
- a hammer
- a drill
- a screwdriver
- a saw (optional)
A used pallet is, on average, $14. Therefore, you can create this style of composting bin for about $50. Just remember to choose pallets that are the same size. If they’re not, add a saw to the list so you can make them even.
Make sure you choose a pallet without pesticides. To be sure you buy the proper kind of pallet, find the stamp on it and look for an HT or MB symbol.
HT means the wood was heat-treated and is safe to use for the project.
MB means it was treated with the highly toxic pesticide Methyl Bromide and cannot be used for a composter.
Step #2: Assemble The Walls
Join your three pallets together with two corner brackets on the top and two on the bottom. Now add two plate brackets at the rear corners to make the construction stronger.
When you learn how to make a compost bin, don’t be afraid to double-check your materials’ durability. Give your pallets a wiggle to make sure they’re not too loose.
Step #3: Assemble Planks In The Front
Now it’s time to attach four planks at the bottom of the front. The goal of this part is to secure composting pile from falling back out.
This wall should be, at most, half of the height of a pallet. Building the wall higher may make throwing the waste in difficult to do.
To bring your composter to another level of convenience, you can add doors to the front. To add doors, you’ll need hinges and a hook-and-eye latch.
To make sure your construction won’t move, add a rebar to each wall of the composter bin.
Step #4: Add A Chicken Wire Or Netting
While this is a finishing touch you can leave out, it’s still quite convenience. If you want to make sure no waste is going to fall out of your composting bin, add a chicken wire or a netting around it.
You’ll need U-shaped nails or a staple gun to make sure it holds up.
That’s it! Now you’re ready to start using your compost bin. Check out the following instructions on composting below.
How to Make a Compost Bin From a Trash Can
Making a composting bin out of a plastic bucket is a beginner-friendly method. It has so many advantages such as:
- Not taking up much space in your backyard
- Very inexpensive and easy to find materials for
- The entire project takes roughly an hour
A DIY composting bin made out of a trash can costs around $10.
Step #1: Prepare a Trash Can, a Saw, and a Drill
Ready to learn how to make a compost bin with some of the simplest materials? To make a composting bin out of a trash can, you’re going to need:
- a trash can
- a saw
- a drill
Trash can (or bucket) needs to be at least 18 gallons, 24″ tall or more, and have a lid.
Step #2: Cut Off The Bottom Of The Can
To cut off the bottom of the trash can (or bucket), you can use a saw or a utility knife. You cut off the bottom of the trash can for aeration purposes.
It’s also easier to take the compost out later on.
Step #3: Drill Holes in The Walls
As aeration is crucial for composting to create airflow drill holes all over the bin. If you want to make it look nice, you can make a pattern out of the holes.
Step #4: Install Your Composting Bin
Now you’re ready to place your composting bin on the ground. You can add a weed cloth underneath it, but it’s not necessary.
Even though composting doesn’t smell, the composting bin isn’t exactly lovely to look at. As such, you can cover it up a little.
If rodents arrive at your lot, don’t forget to put the lid on and secure it with heave stones or a rope. Also make sure not to put meat, bones, or dairy in the composting bin. These materials rot quickly and smell terrible.
How to Make Compost Bin Out of a Fence Wire
Making a composting bin made out of a fence wire is a fast and easy process. However, it’s usually a job for two people.
The cost of a DIY composting bin made of fence wire is under $30.
Step #1: Collect a Chicken Wire, Four Rebars, Zip Ties, and a Wire Tool
Learning how to make a compost bin in this style may also double as an exercise routine. To make a composting bin out of a chicken wire you’ll need:
- a fence wire
- 4 rebars
- zip ties (or a wire)
- a wire tool
- a hammer
While you choose your wires, pick the thickness of wire you are comfortable working with. If it’s too thick, you’ll need a lot of strength to put it together.
Step #2: Choose Your Bin Size and Hammer the Rebars
On average, fence wire composting bins are three to four feet wide, round or square. Here you’ll choose the spot and hammer the rebars onto the square plan.
You can put a weed cloth here, too, but it’s not necessary. For a thin wire, rebars should be as high as the fence wire.
Step #3: Install a Fence Wire on the Rebars
Roll out your fence wire and create the shape you want out of it. You can attach the fence wire to rebars, then connect the ends with zip ties or wire.
Look out for any sharp edges and try to eliminate them with a wire tool.
How to Make Compost: Step-By-Step
Now that you know how to make a compost bin, you need to make compost. To start, the new composting bin should be filled with two layers:
- Tiny twigs
- Leaves
After filling your composter with these two layers, you can start adding organic waste. There are two kinds of organic waste from a composting point of view: green and brown.
Green materials are green leaves, garden waste, flowers, vegetables, etc. Browns are dried leaves, cartons, paper towels, dried grass clippings, etc.
The key to creating compost is balancing brown and green materials by adding them in layers. For example, let’s say you put a lot of rotten apples into the compost bin. The next layer could be dried grass clippings.
How to Speed Up The Compost Process
There are multiple ways to speed up the composting process. Below are reliable tips that work out for many homeowners:
- Turn your compost every 2-4 weeks
- Make sure the inside of your compost pile is moist enough. If it’s too wet, add dry materials. If it’s too dry, water it
- Add waste in big batches instead of adding small amounts frequently
- Chop and shred larger items
- Keep your compost pile in the sun
- Add a compost activator
Need quick access to a water source as you learn how to make a compost bin? Consider installing a DIY outdoor sink.
What is the Best Material For a Compost Bin?
There are two types of organic waste to be composted: green and brown. Below you’ll find a list of compostable materials:
| Brown materials | Green materials |
|---|---|
| Dead house plants | Garden waste |
| Bark | Vegetables |
| Evergreen needless | Fruits |
| Paper egg cartons | Peels |
| Paper towels | Scraps |
| Coffee filters | Coffee grounds |
| Sawdust | Tea leaves |
| Cardboard (non-glossy) | Egg shells |
| Dried leaves | Green leaves |
| Dried grass clippings | Flowers |
What’s Bad For Compost?
Learning how to make a compost bin doesn’t mean much if you’re not responsible. There are quite a few materials that can’t be added to compost (and not all of them are obvious as plastic).
Take a look at the table below:
| Bad compost material | Why? |
|---|---|
| Citrus peels, onions, garlic | can kill worms and other microorganisms |
| Teabags, coffee pods | can contain nylon and other synthetic materials |
| Glossy or coated paper | contains toxins |
| Sticky labels on fruits and vegetables | plastic that contaminates compost |
| Meat, fish, bones | attract rodents, do not compost |
| Dairy, eggs | smells, attract pets and scavengers |
| Oil, butter, fat based condiments, and foods | attract pests, do not break down |
| Fresh baked goods, cooked grains | breed bad bacteria, attract rodents |
| Cat and dog droppings | can make compost toxic |
| Coal ash | compost made with it can damage plants (to high sulfur and iron amounts) |
| Grass clippings recently treated with pesticides | pesticides are not going to break down in compost |
| Weed seed, diseased plants | weeds and diseases can spread with compost |
Will My Compost Attract Rats?
A compost bin can attract rats if the compost material has any of the materials listed above. Think meat, fish, bones, dairy, eggs, fresh baker goods or cooked grains.
Learning How to Make a Compost Bin is Quick and Easy
Compost is a reliable way to clear out waste from your backyard while giving your garden extra food. Just make sure you make a sturdy bin and don’t put in any of the wrong ingredients.
Are you thinking of putting together even more DIY projects for your garden or outdoor kitchen? Don’t miss these useful guides and tutorials:
- Outdoor Kitchen Frame : Should You Do Wood or Metal?
- Reliable Materials for Outdoor Kitchens: A Definitive Guide
- Outdoor Kitchen Deck: 7 Smart Tips for Picking a Location
