"michael adams" wrote in message
...

"miljee" wrote in message
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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

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Yes!, in my previous dissertation I forgot to mention that you need three
bins.
And rotate the use of their contents, i.e. - the contents of the 'this year'
one, is for use hence, in two years time - and so on.. This means that each
binful has been stewing away to itself for two years.
Mind you, - in a warmer area, ....I'll have to think about that, - I'm in
Cumbria!.
Doug.

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