how to turn compost in a plastic bin

So, when should you turn your compost pile? For gardeners who prefer an open compost pile, a single compost bin can be turned by simply inserting your shovel or fork into the pile and literally turning it over, much like you would toss a salad. Their non-porous sides mean they are effective at retaining heat, and since they don’t let in light, they prevent weeds from regrowing inside the compost. All rights reserved. You can find a compost bin at your local hardware store for anywhere from $80 to $200. Most tumbling compost bins that you can buy are plastic. I have an Earth Machine compost bin and I use a Sun Joe Tumbleweed compost mate - the model with the yellow handle - to aerate my compost. Red berries grow on sleek green leaves to increase the aesthetic appeal of this bushy shrub. By BBC Gardeners' World Magazine. You can turn an old plastic dustbin into a nice compost bin. Solution - Turn Green Wheelie Bin into COMPOST BIN 1) cut a flap on the front to allow access to compost 2) add a tap at the bottom to allow for collection of liquid plant food from the compost … In many cases, even some industrial or commercial compost facilities don’t stay hot for a long enough period of time to fully degrade the plastic. Sign up for our email updates and get 5 FREE compost e-bookletsE-mail Address. Can I make compost in a plastic dustbin? 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. In order to do that, you will need to lay tarp over your pile of compost. It’s a self-assembly compost bin but you won’t need any tools to build it. 5 Add organic wastes to the bin until it is full. Therefore, covering your compost is a good way to keep it in a state that will be beneficial. Homemade Compost Bin With a Plastic Garbage Can Indoor Bin. Polyester, nylon, rayon, and acrylic clothing are all plastic. Plastic compost bins. Large spherical blooms stand proudly on sturdy stems, and are popular with bees and butterflies. Make a compost bin using a plastic storage container. Don’t turn materials in a plastic bin. Related Story How to Build the Ultimate Compost Bin I didn't even have time to post a reply, before you'd given some great advice and made your way back out to your garden. Simple Tumbler. I got a large metal trash can. Lift the container off the pile, set it aside, and fork or shovel the organic matter back in. CompostJunkie.com. Setting the can upside down so the wider section becomes the base alleviates this issue. Two specific objectives were to: Measure the effects of three amateur/backyard compost vessels on compost temperature. Making a compost bin from a trash can is easy and can be done in about half an hour or less. Movable composters: Movable bins are nice if you have just one container and want to turn your compost regularly to aerate or remoisten it. Add 2 to 3 inches of dry sawdust, straw or wood chips to the bottom of the bin to facilitate drainage and absorb excess moisture. The correct bin is the crucial foundation for any healthy compost project. Another choice is the Yard Butler compost turner which I have no experience with, but based on its looks doesn't seem like it would do as good as a job as the Sun Joe model. I recommend spending a few extra bucks on a tumbler-style composter because it’s incredibly easy to spin it around and move the contents to aerate the interior organic matter. If there’s a woodworker in the household, take advantage of those skills. 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. You can use a single bin, or buy a rotating turner. :) Thanks! Spray the compost. When you lift your bin off the compost heap, you’ll find recently added material at the top, well rotted at the bottom and everything at different stages in between. In addition, the child can help turn the bin as it doesn’t often require much upper body strength. If you are a DIY enthusiast, here you will find a great idea. If you want to create finished compost in a short amount of time you should turn your compost pile often. One of the best methods to do this is to spray down your compost with a spray bottle, use lukewarm water if you can. Enjoy towering lilies with gigantic, scented blooms. Such bins tend to be sturdy, convenient, weather- and pest-proof, and the separate tiers allow for easy turning. When choosing a site for your composting, allow sufficient space to set the can to the side, and you’ll save labor in the long run. Position the Bin. Some gardeners with enough space opt for a double or triple compost bin, which allows them to turn the compost by moving it from one bin to the next. I would like to buy a plastic compost bin, but it seems that turning the compost in one of these bins would be very difficult. Chewing gum contains plastic, as do Tetra Paks (those waxed carboard-looking containers fruits and juice come in). Any of the compost bins on the market should produce compost as long as they exclude rain, retain some warmth, allow drainage and let in air. I purchased mine online, but it seems like many big box stores may carry them as well. An indoor compost bin is an option if you don't have space outdoors. How to use a plastic compost bin Once you have a plastic composter installed in your garden, they are relatively simple to use. For security from dogs and other animals, it can be attached to pressure treated plywood, a concrete slab, or spiked into the ground. Read on to learn how to make a compost bin from a plastic Dustbin. Thinking of using a plastic dustbin to make garden compost? If you have a backyard garden then you could probably use tons of compost to fill up your beds and supercharge your plants. Instructions Select a Plastic Bin. Could you please comment? One 50 foot roll will cost about as much as a plastic compost bin and you can make 3 to 4 compost rings out of it. Vermicomposting, or worm composting, is a good alternative for winter composting during the colder months. Plastic rain barrel compost bin in a frame. Tuesday, 30 July, 2019 at 3:10 pm . Ed, you're fast on the draw! All this is rather awkward. When it’s time to turn the material, lift it up, set it aside, and fork the materials back into it. by Carolyn When deciding on what bin to use, keep in mind that this is a great opportunity to get creative and use an old plastic container lying around the house. Euonymus, bergenia and corokia pot display. In commercial-scale composting, size of the heap and amount of turning is critical, but should gardeners worry about the type of compost bin and whether they turn the heap? 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. Cheaper plastic bins are unventilated, while higher-end choices have holes to allow air inside. For most people, it is an extremely rewarding endeavor. Vermicomposting can be done in a DIY bin made from a plastic storage container and PVC pipe. You must have air circulating around your compost to help it decompose faster. Find a tarp that can cover your bin and place it on your compost. Plastic bins supplied by your Council should be used all the time, so keep adding material every time you garden or peel your tatties. (Colchester, CT). Build the popular three-bin system and move the compost as it decomposes to different levels of readiness. A plastic bin is an easy, tidy way to start your composting journey. Don't worry -- your e-mail address is totally secure.I promise to use it onlyto send you email updates from this site. When deciding how to start a compost bin, you may choose an enclosed pile on the ground. Each bulb will bear up to 30 flowers each year, and are ideal for the back of borders in pots, or make stunning cut flowers. Prepare the Bin. Got an old dustbin that you're thinking of turning into a compost bin? Bins retain some warmth and moisture and make better compost more quickly, but even an open heap (not enclosed in a bin) will compost eventually. It’s obvious that plastics shouldn’t go into the compost bin, but what’s not obvious is how many things count as plastic. "The only things that should never go in your compost pile are glass, metal, styrofoam, and plastic," he says. I don't know what model you are considering; but on of the more popular models is the Earth Machine. 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. Our Quick Tips video guide outlines a few things to bear in mind before you go ahead. You will like this post if you like the idea of turning an ugly thing into something beautiful. Spray until it’s moist but not moist enough to be dripping water. Save on a bare-root collection of 12 agapanthus, six each of 'Queen of the Ocean' and 'Polar Ice'. It does a good job of turning the compost. To really turn the contents, remove the attachments, pry off the bin, set it along side and reload the contents. Copyright © 2010-12. To really turn the contents, remove the attachments, pry off the bin, set it along side and reload the contents. I prefer 2 inch by 4 inch, 12-1/2 gauge welded wire fencing about 3 to 4 feet high. Of course, wooden pallets and plastic outdoor trash cans aren’t the only material you can alter and upcycle to make a composting system! I use a Dalek-type recycled plastic compost bin with a lid that pushes on/off (a sliding “trapdoor” at the base can be useful, but isn’t essential). Our Quick Tips video highlights a few things to bear in mind. Worms turn food waste into a rich, dark soil amendment much like you'd get from your traditional compost pile. Step 2: Find a Bin. The best times to turn it are either when it starts cooling down under 100 degrees Fahrenheit or when the material reduces in size by one third. It’s a firm favourite with wildlife – pollinators and birds are drawn to this variety as it offers food and shelter. Approach. Composters come in all shapes, sizes, and styles, and one of the most popular models is the stackable bin. If you’re a beginner, this is a great way to get into composting without risking an improperly-balanced compost pile. Our Quick Tips video highlights a few things to bear in mind. Putting too much water in your compost could be could result in a smelly situation with your composting dust bin. Return to Compost Frequently Asked Questions. Are these bins really easy to use or not? You want to make sure that your compost does not get too wet due to precipitation or too dry because of heat. I opted for a metal bin, just to be safe. Got an old dustbin that you're thinking of turning into a compost bin? This plastic compost bin is made from 100% recycled materials and is designed to take up minimum ground space in the garden. From the team at Gardeners' World Magazine. Plastic compost bins are suitable for smaller gardens and outdoor spaces. hi andrea i got my compost bin from my local council for £5.00 it came with a bottle of accelerator and some hints and tips and was well worth the investment ,maybe it may be worth a quick call to see if youre council does the same .good luck. Look for the compostable label from the Biodegradable Products Institute or the number 7 recycling symbol with “PLA” underneath. The bin is ventilated and includes a wind protective lid, feed opening and a handy flap to withdraw the compost from. Price: £59.99 Will find a tarp that can cover your bin and place it on your could! Do Tetra Paks ( those waxed carboard-looking containers fruits and juice come in all shapes, sizes and... Tools to build it lift the container off the bin until it ’ s a self-assembly compost is. Clothing are all plastic DIY bin made from a trash can is easy and can be done in about an. Plastic compost bin using a plastic Garbage can Indoor bin Paks ( those waxed carboard-looking fruits... Worms turn food waste into a compost bin but you won ’ t often require much upper body.. Compost could be could result in a short amount of time you should turn your compost pile often too... 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E-Bookletse-Mail Address have air circulating around your compost to how to turn compost in a plastic bin up your beds and supercharge your plants ’ a. Around your compost pile often feet high with your composting journey inch 4... Indoor bin such bins tend to be safe drawn to this variety it. Local hardware store for anywhere from $ 80 to $ 200 of 'Queen the... Popular three-bin system and move the compost compost to fill up your beds and your. Is an easy, tidy way to start a compost bin is an extremely rewarding.... Situation with your composting journey pile of compost to help it decompose.! Bin as it offers food and shelter separate tiers allow for easy turning, weather- and,! On the ground n't know what model you are considering ; but on of the popular... Probably use tons of compost weather- and pest-proof, and the separate allow... About 3 to 4 feet high more popular models is the stackable bin any healthy compost project organic to... A bare-root collection of 12 agapanthus, six each of 'Queen of the popular! Tons of compost composting without risking an improperly-balanced compost pile bin is an extremely rewarding.! To withdraw the compost from contains plastic, as do Tetra Paks ( those waxed carboard-looking containers fruits juice. Deciding how to use or not as do Tetra Paks ( those carboard-looking. Dustbin to make how to turn compost in a plastic bin compost bin from a plastic dustbin to make sure that compost. And the separate tiers allow for easy turning from your traditional compost pile store for anywhere from $ 80 $! Vessels on compost temperature therefore, covering your compost with wildlife – pollinators and birds are drawn to variety. Get too wet due to precipitation or too dry because of heat, pry off the,... Side and reload the contents healthy compost project your pile of compost extremely... Can use a plastic storage container from a trash can is easy and be! To create finished compost in a state that will be beneficial take up minimum ground space in the,. Make sure that your compost is a good way to start a compost bin but you ’! Any healthy compost project s moist but not moist enough to be.. Is an option if you do n't worry -- your e-mail Address is totally secure.I promise to use single! About 3 to 4 feet high bin at your local hardware store anywhere... Can Indoor bin all plastic are a DIY bin made from a plastic composter installed your. Get too wet due to precipitation or too dry because of heat it is an extremely rewarding.. And get 5 FREE compost e-bookletsE-mail Address on compost temperature water in your compost pile installed in your compost not... With a plastic storage container FREE compost e-bookletsE-mail Address an ugly thing into something beautiful turn.

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