From a practical standpoint, an individual composts because they enjoy growing their own fruits and vegetables. They do so because they like the sense of pride that comes with the ability to provide their family healthy, fresh, and homegrown food products.
Still, composting can mean much more! It’s not only good for the environment, but it can also have a positive impact on your wellbeing as well.
First and foremost, composting is an incredible way to minimize food waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Composting is a cheap and natural way of transforming your kitchen as well as garden waste into highly valuable and nutrient-rich food for your plants. Plus, it’s super easy to make and use.
Recent research shows that nearly half of the food waste in a conventional trash can be composted, and food waste makes up nearly a third of the average household waste. Composting at home gives you a decent opportunity to play your part in ensuring we reduce the amount of waste we send to the landfills.
Composting is easier than you think. If you already sort your kitchen waste into trash bins, you are already one step ahead! You’ll find it relatively easier to incorporate composting into your daily waste management routine. It just requires an additional plastic container to serve as the compost bin and a bit of understanding and knowledge of what needs to go inside the plastic compost bin.
We are here to help you make your compost without spending a considerable amount of money on a composter. So, today in this post, we want to provide you with practical and effective tips on how to make a compost bin from a plastic dustbin.
How To Make A Compost Bin From a Plastic Dustbin
Before we get started with the instructions, there are a few items you will need to properly build up your own DIY compost bin from a plastic dustbin.
Those items are:
- A plastic storage bin with a capacity of 20 gallons or more.
- Hardware cloth or wire mesh (optional).
- A drill or knife.
- A lid for the plastic container.
Prepare The Plastic Bin For Composting
Plastic bins are widely available, and the chances are high you have one at your disposal which you can modify for this purpose.
As I have mentioned, your plastic bin shouldn’t be smaller than 20 gallons. What’s more, you should be able to find a lid for that particular container. A lid will not only ensure the wastes don’t get easily spilled over, but also helps maintain a desirable temperature for the process of composting to occur.
After you have selected your preferred plastic bin, you’ll now need to drill it because your plastic bin needs to be designed in a way it supports free oxygen circulation. This will ensure your waste decomposes at a more decent rate.
Therefore you’ll have to drill holes throughout the plastic container. Space the holes at least one or two inches apart and make sure to drill all sides of the container, including the lid as well as the bottom part.
If you happen to drill large holes, make sure you place a hardware cloth or a wire mesh to keep the contents of your container from spilling outward. This will also prevent pests from finding their way into your compost.
Place The Plastic Bin In a Good Location
After making perforations on your plastic container, the next step will be to find a great spot for your new compost bin. And because it has a lightweight and compact design, it will likely fit on most balconies, patios, porches, or even somewhere closer to your kitchen. You can also place it in your vegetable garden, so you can easily toss trimmings or weeds into it.
However, if you live in a colder climate, it would be better to place your plastic compost bin indoors where temperatures will support a composting environment. If you can’t place your compost bin indoors, the content within your compost bin may freeze, which means the whole decomposition process will halt.
Create The Base
Your next step will now involve putting some dry leaves or shredded leaves on the bottom of your bin, making sure it is at least a quarter full. Leaves are pretty much everywhere, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding some.
After doing so, place some light soil or dirt on top of the leaves, making sure your container is nearly half full.
Toss in the Kitchem Waste
It is worth mentioning that anything that you usually throw in your normal compost pile can go in your plastic bin compost.
This includes vegetable peels, rinsed eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags, coffee filters, paper napkins and towels, shredded paper, toilet paper rolls, grass clippings, among others. Just make sure that whatever waste finds its way into your compost is chopped into small pieces so that the decomposition process is faster.
Pet waste, deceased yard waste, meat, dairy, and bones are a few of the things that you shouldn’t put inside your compost bin. Pure meat, bones, and fat not only carry the risk for unwanted diseases, but may also attract rodents.
Maintain The Compost Plastic Bin
To ensure everything works out properly, you’ll have to occasionally shake the bin to give your compost some quick aeration. And if you find that the content of the bin is either excessively smelly or wet, add some shredded newspaper of fallen leaves or even sawdust.
This will not only help dry out the contents, but will also help balance the ratio of browns to greens, which is key to speeding up the development of compost.
On the other hand, if you realize that the contents are overly dry, add some water to boost its moisture content. You can also add some veggies and fruits that are rich in moisture, including mangoes, bananas, and oranges.
If you did everything well up to this point, then you are almost done! Now you only have to continue adding compostables to your plastic bin. Also, don’t hesitate to stir your compost more regularly. Your compost should be finished within three months.
Of course, if you find that your compost isn’t yet ready for harvesting, just be patient and give it more time, particularly if you live in a colder climate.
Compost is finished or ready when it smells, feels, and looks like rich, dark soil. Simply put, a finished compost should be dark brown and a little bit crumbly. You can store your compost in another container for future use. You can also use it immediately by spreading it in your garden.
Cheap Compost Bins You Can Purchase
If you’re not ready to go the DIY route, there are numerous ready-made compost bins that you can use to build your compost.
They are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and types, which means finding a product that suits your composting needs is not always a piece of cake.
Thankfully, I’ve identified some of the best and most affordable compost bins you can use to start making your compost in a few days.
GEOBIN Compost 246-Gallon Expandable Bin
This amazing composter offers households a great way to easily and quickly compost their yard waste as well as kitchen scraps. It is not only highly affordable, but also offers the largest possible capacity to compost your waste.
It is easy to set up and use and is suitable for all skill levels from amateur to established gardeners. It is practically a rolled sheet of drilled plastic that you only need to unroll to the diameter of your choice before folding it together using the available closure keys. It is a great device that is not only affordable, but durable, and performance-oriented.
Algreen Soil Products Saver Compost Bin
Here is another incredible compost bin worth your time and money. With it, at your disposal, you can easily produce top-notch organic compost within eight weeks from kitchen scraps, garden wastes. It is highly durable made from BPA-free recyclable plastic which also safe for the environment.
It boasts a large opening that makes it relatively easier to access the wastes whereas the two sliding doors make the removal of compost easy and convenient. Its robust and thick construction not only ensures no pests can find their way to your compost, but also helps to produce and insulate heat that helps microorganisms to effortlessly break down the waste into nutrient-rich soil.
Redmon Compost 65 Gallon Bin
Redmon Green Culture Composter is a great device homeowners can use to compost their household wastes. It is a versatile product that can be used to compost yard waste, garden plants, and food scraps. It has a generous size and holds a whopping 42 gallons of waste.
It boasts a robust and heavy-duty construction that can withstand lots of physical construction. It has four doors for easy access and is also easy to assemble. It also comes with a practical composting guide to help through the entire process.
The Bottom Line
You have every reason to start composting. It not only allows you to manage your waste better, but also presents the easiest and affordable way to make natural fertilizer for your garden plants.
We have provided you with a practical guide on how to produce your compost using a plastic bin, but if you’re not up for the trouble of making your own (which isn’t much to be honest), you can always purchase a ready-made and affordable compost bin.