GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - Convert a wheelie bin to a compost bin help!

miljee · 22-01-2006, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael adams

"miljee" wrote in message
...

I live in a rental property but wish to compost kitchen and some garden
waste. I don't want to spend big money on a 'proper' compost bin (we
will eventually be returning to Oz!) but we are in posession of a
lidded plastic wheelie bin (orig. council issue). Can I convert this?
My idea is to cut out the bottom and replace it with an old oven rack,
cut out a 12" square hole at the front bottom and cover this with a
wire hinged old oven rack (for compost access) and to park the whole
thing against a wall over soil. Mainly I want to know- will this work
and should I drill or nail holes all over the container for
ventilation? Thanks.

--
miljee

You needn't waste money on a proper compost bin. Which IMHO are a
bit of a ripoff. The green plastic ones certainly. You can buy suitable
a plastic dustibin or tote bin for under a tenner at most DIY sheds.
For short term use you can possibly also scavenge old plastic dustbins
from all sorts of places.

But be warned before you go cutting it up. A lot of plastic things
are moulded on such a way that they have structural integrity which
can be destroyed if you cut too much off. In a thing designed to take
a lid, the bottom is necessary to maintain the shape. So leave all
the bottom corners on with a good bottom margin al round. But drilling
plenty of air holes in the sides should be no problem.

If you're not generating that much waste - rather than having one
large bin and tearing your hair out trying to devise ways of getting
stuff out, have two or more smaller ones. Fill one up - with plenty of
airgaps etc. and cover it with old sacking or carpets to conserve the
heat maybe. And then by the time you've filled up the other one, the
material in the first one will be broken down and can be tipped out or
forked out ready for use. Taking care to look out for and remove any
brandlings - compost worms - which can then be put back in the other
bin to continue their work.

michael adams

....

Thanks, and in reply to you and pk. I think you're right about the structural aspect of the bin- I will have to look at that carefully. Our council do sell compost bins but they're around 18 pounds which is a tad steep seeing as, in reality, what I'm looking for is somewhere sensible to put organic kitchen waste seeing as the council are in the process of slashing their waste collection services, household and recyclables (in the interests of saving money and meeting targets!) hence the 'left over' bins. Whilst I indulge in as many 'green' activities as are practical, spending out a lot to buy a 'proper bin' which we will have to leave here in the UK in 15 months time hurts a bit (esp on NHS wages!) and the urge to make compost for a garden which will almost certainly be neglected beyond a quick mow now and then once we leave here isn't that great! Hence the idea to 'make do and mend'.