Recycle builders bag for compost container?
 

X-posting. Yes, I know I am a bad person :-)

I was just about to order a couple of plastic compost bins from the council
(or at least, the firm that does a discount deal via the council) when my
eyes alighted on a white plastic 1cu metre bag which was used to deliver
sand. I have another one somewhere as well.

Now, with a stout post driven down through each inside corner, a few
drainage holes in the bottom, and the plastic stapled to the stakes, I
should have two nice (well glaring mucky white) containers in which to pile
lawn mowings, prunings, weeds, old container compost etc.

AFAIKT these should be significantly larger than the 330l bins at £16 a pop
(plus £4 delivery in total which makes the bins effectivley £18 delivered to
me).

Not as pretty, and would need a decent cover to keep moist/dry but perhaps
an effecient use of resources?

These bag things are supposed to bio-degrade, so only a solution for a year
or so.

The challenge now is to get 4 stout stakes which will not rot quickly for
under £4 each (which may not be as easy as it first seems, having seen the
prices they charge in the sheds).

So:

(1) any drawbacks to this cunning plan apart from the hideous whiteness? I
do plan to make holes to allow drainage and ingress of earthworms.

(2) suggestions for the best place to obtain 4 * (at least 4' high) 2*2 rot
resistant posts for under £16? Or will just filling the bags (which will not
result in such a neat shape) be an acceptable solution?

TIA
Dave R

--

Recycle builders bag for compost container?
 

David W.E. Roberts wrote:

These bag things are supposed to bio-degrade, so only a solution for a year
or so.

Really? Mine don't - they're polypropylene, and will stick around for a
looong time.


(1) any drawbacks to this cunning plan apart from the hideous whiteness? I
do plan to make holes to allow drainage and ingress of earthworms.

Can't think of any.


(2) suggestions for the best place to obtain 4 * (at least 4' high) 2*2 rot
resistant posts for under £16? Or will just filling the bags (which will not
result in such a neat shape) be an acceptable solution?

We get our 5 foot, 4" diameter pressure treated fence posts, complete
with one pointy end from a local timber yard at around £2.50 each.

--
Grunff

Recycle builders bag for compost container?
 

David W.E. Roberts wrote:
X-posting. Yes, I know I am a bad person :-)

I was just about to order a couple of plastic compost bins from the council
(or at least, the firm that does a discount deal via the council) when my
eyes alighted on a white plastic 1cu metre bag which was used to deliver
sand. I have another one somewhere as well.

Now, with a stout post driven down through each inside corner, a few
drainage holes in the bottom, and the plastic stapled to the stakes, I
should have two nice (well glaring mucky white) containers in which to pile
lawn mowings, prunings, weeds, old container compost etc.

AFAIKT these should be significantly larger than the 330l bins at £16 a pop
(plus £4 delivery in total which makes the bins effectivley £18 delivered to
me).

Not as pretty, and would need a decent cover to keep moist/dry but perhaps
an effecient use of resources?

These bag things are supposed to bio-degrade, so only a solution for a year
or so.

The challenge now is to get 4 stout stakes which will not rot quickly for
under £4 each (which may not be as easy as it first seems, having seen the
prices they charge in the sheds).

So:

(1) any drawbacks to this cunning plan apart from the hideous whiteness? I
do plan to make holes to allow drainage and ingress of earthworms.

(2) suggestions for the best place to obtain 4 * (at least 4' high) 2*2 rot
resistant posts for under £16? Or will just filling the bags (which will not
result in such a neat shape) be an acceptable solution?

If the bags are bio-degradeable anyway, why bother with such stout
posts? I would go and get the same poles I use for bean sticks; hazel
poles from a friendly local hedge. I should think poles of an inch in
diameter would hold a builders bag open and would last as long as the
bag itself. And even if you replace them once a year, it's hardly more
than ten minutes work.

Recycle builders bag for compost container?
 

"David W.E. Roberts" wrote in message
...
X-posting. Yes, I know I am a bad person :-)

I was just about to order a couple of plastic compost bins from the
council
(or at least, the firm that does a discount deal via the council) when my
eyes alighted on a white plastic 1cu metre bag which was used to deliver
sand. I have another one somewhere as well.

Now, with a stout post driven down through each inside corner, a few
drainage holes in the bottom, and the plastic stapled to the stakes, I
should have two nice (well glaring mucky white) containers in which to
pile
lawn mowings, prunings, weeds, old container compost etc.

AFAIKT these should be significantly larger than the 330l bins at £16 a
pop
(plus £4 delivery in total which makes the bins effectivley £18 delivered
to
me).

Not as pretty, and would need a decent cover to keep moist/dry but perhaps
an effecient use of resources?

These bag things are supposed to bio-degrade, so only a solution for a
year
or so.

The challenge now is to get 4 stout stakes which will not rot quickly for
under £4 each (which may not be as easy as it first seems, having seen the
prices they charge in the sheds).

So:

(1) any drawbacks to this cunning plan apart from the hideous whiteness? I
do plan to make holes to allow drainage and ingress of earthworms.

(2) suggestions for the best place to obtain 4 * (at least 4' high) 2*2
rot
resistant posts for under £16? Or will just filling the bags (which will
not
result in such a neat shape) be an acceptable solution?

I think you'll fin they'll last longer than you think, but nowadays there's
no deposit on them, so you can easily get more.

As for supports, I would just get two uprights of the relevant height with
horizontal pieces on the ground like a couple of mini gallows, and a
crosspiece across both of these and threaded through the handles. that will
hold it up and you can throw a bit of old carpet over the top. Pallets are
also not deposit payable nowadays, and therefore easily obtained, and a bit
of carpet from a skip and there you go. Cost = Zero, if you discount your
time and petrol to the local industrial estate. If you come across good
stuff in the skips, you may even make a profit. :-))

Steve

Recycle builders bag for compost container?
 

"David W.E. Roberts" wrote in message
...
X-posting. Yes, I know I am a bad person :-)

I was just about to order a couple of plastic compost bins from the
council
(or at least, the firm that does a discount deal via the council) when my
eyes alighted on a white plastic 1cu metre bag which was used to deliver
sand. I have another one somewhere as well.

We use these for:
1. collecting & storing horse muck until it matures.
2. Storing conifer chippings for a year before using as mulch
3. Storing leaves till they break down.

Haven't used 'em for compost yet - the compost heaps are made of stacked
turves (brilliant!) and old pallets (easier to turn over)

Recycle builders bag for compost container?
 

On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 13:47:03 +0100, "David W.E. Roberts"
wrote:

X-posting. Yes, I know I am a bad person :-)

I was just about to order a couple of plastic compost bins from the council

snip

AFAIKT these should be significantly larger than the 330l bins at £16 a pop
(plus £4 delivery in total which makes the bins effectivley £18 delivered to
me).

snip LB Croydon do them for £5 delivered.
Not as pretty, and would need a decent cover to keep moist/dry but perhaps
an effecient use of resources?

These bag things are supposed to bio-degrade, so only a solution for a year
or so.

The challenge now is to get 4 stout stakes which will not rot quickly for
under £4 each (which may not be as easy as it first seems, having seen the
prices they charge in the sheds).

So:

(1) any drawbacks to this cunning plan apart from the hideous whiteness? I
do plan to make holes to allow drainage and ingress of earthworms.

(2) suggestions for the best place to obtain 4 * (at least 4' high) 2*2 rot
resistant posts for under £16? Or will just filling the bags (which will not
result in such a neat shape) be an acceptable solution?

The best thing would be top get some pallets, the "Gypsum" used for
delivering Breese Blocks ones are best as they some apart easier.
There is loads of them in skips.

Use the Board as the sides of your compost bin and the Bearer as the
uprights. Then just paint with preservative. I have some plans for
the commpost bin and coldframe I made. If you want I will email them
to you.

Recycle builders bag for compost container?
 

In article , David W.E.
Roberts writes
2) suggestions for the best place to obtain 4 * (at least 4' high) 2*2 rot
resistant posts for under £16? Or will just filling the bags (which will not
result in such a neat shape) be an acceptable solution?

I would have thought that would be acceptable. Or you could line it with
cardboard boxes which will keep their shape long enough while the plant
material pads down and then will rot to form part of the compost.

Put the bags bang up hard against each other so they support each other.
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

Recycle builders bag for compost container?
 

David W.E. Roberts19/4/04 1:47

X-posting. Yes, I know I am a bad person :-)

I was just about to order a couple of plastic compost bins from the council
(or at least, the firm that does a discount deal via the council) when my
eyes alighted on a white plastic 1cu metre bag which was used to deliver
sand. I have another one somewhere as well.

snip

We offer all our old compost bags to any customer and request only a
donation, of the customer's choice, to a local charity. They can be used as
you suggest or to bag up and dispose of rubbish or turned black side out, to
line tubs and containers to retain moisture.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

Recycle builders bag for compost container?
 

In article ,
Grunff wrote:
David W.E. Roberts wrote:

These bag things are supposed to bio-degrade, so only a solution for a year
or so.

Really? Mine don't - they're polypropylene, and will stick around for a
looong time.

Had a couple full of gravel at the bottom of the garden for a few years.
Both have gone very brittle - the one I attempted to empty and move just
crumbled.

I *think* they were from Travis Perkins originally - can't tell now as the
logos are long gone!

Darren

Recycle builders bag for compost container?
 

Recycle builders bag for compost container?
 

"Huge" wrote in message
...
(dmc) writes:
In article ,
Grunff wrote:
David W.E. Roberts wrote:

These bag things are supposed to bio-degrade, so only a solution for a
year
or so.

Really? Mine don't - they're polypropylene, and will stick around for a
looong time.

Had a couple full of gravel at the bottom of the garden for a few years.
Both have gone very brittle - the one I attempted to empty and move just
crumbled.

That's not biodegrading. The UV in the sunlight has destroyed them.

O.K. non-bio degradeable :-)
What happens to all the crumbly bits of UV degraded plastic?
Do they work their way into the soil and pollute for evermore?

Main point being - limlited lifespan in planned deployment.

Cheers
Dave R

Recycle builders bag for compost container?
 

Xref: kermit uk.d-i-y:356368 uk.rec.gardening:197778

David W.E. Roberts wrote:
X-posting. Yes, I know I am a bad person :-)

I was just about to order a couple of plastic compost bins from the
council (or at least, the firm that does a discount deal via the
council) when my eyes alighted on a white plastic 1cu metre bag which
was used to deliver sand. I have another one somewhere as well.

Now, with a stout post driven down through each inside corner, a few
drainage holes in the bottom, and the plastic stapled to the stakes, I
should have two nice (well glaring mucky white) containers in which
to pile lawn mowings, prunings, weeds, old container compost etc.

AFAIKT these should be significantly larger than the 330l bins at £16
a pop (plus £4 delivery in total which makes the bins effectivley £18
delivered to me).

Not as pretty, and would need a decent cover to keep moist/dry but
perhaps an effecient use of resources?

These bag things are supposed to bio-degrade, so only a solution for
a year or so.

The challenge now is to get 4 stout stakes which will not rot quickly
for under £4 each (which may not be as easy as it first seems, having
seen the prices they charge in the sheds).

So:

(1) any drawbacks to this cunning plan apart from the hideous
whiteness? I do plan to make holes to allow drainage and ingress of
earthworms.

I would almost suggest cutting a large hole in the bottom of them. We had
to put our (open bottomed) composter on a slabbed path and whilst it did
decompose, it was nowhere near as fast as when it was on soil before which
is expected. I'm not sure whether the holes would be sufficient (though I
don't know the size of the holes you're planning) - cutting a large hole in
the base of it (ie. practically the whole bottom) would allow better
drainage and worm migration. Also, we had a right pain emptying our
composter and in the end just lifted it up and it all fell out. Much easier
to deal with then.

David

Recycle builders bag for compost container?
 

In article , Huge wrote:
(dmc) writes:

Had a couple full of gravel at the bottom of the garden for a few years.
Both have gone very brittle - the one I attempted to empty and move just
crumbled.

That's not biodegrading. The UV in the sunlight has destroyed them.

Hmm. Good point. They had turned to dust though. Nasty poisonous dust
maybe :)

What actually has to happen to something in order for it to have "biodegraded"?
Break down into component chemicals?

Darren

Recycle builders bag for compost container?
 

In article , (dmc) writes:
| In article , Huge wrote:
| (dmc) writes:
|
| Had a couple full of gravel at the bottom of the garden for a few years.
| Both have gone very brittle - the one I attempted to empty and move just
| crumbled.
|
| That's not biodegrading. The UV in the sunlight has destroyed them.
|
| Hmm. Good point. They had turned to dust though. Nasty poisonous dust
| maybe :)

No. Polythene and polypropylene break down into harmless chemicals,
and I believe that the other ingredients aren't particularly toxic
or permanent.

| What actually has to happen to something in order for it to have "biodegraded"?
| Break down into component chemicals?

To have broken down as result of biological action.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Recycle builders bag for compost container?
 

"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...

In article , (dmc) writes:
| In article , Huge
wrote:
| (dmc) writes:
|
| Had a couple full of gravel at the bottom of the garden for a few
years.
| Both have gone very brittle - the one I attempted to empty and move
just
| crumbled.
|
| That's not biodegrading. The UV in the sunlight has destroyed them.
|
| Hmm. Good point. They had turned to dust though. Nasty poisonous dust
| maybe :)

No. Polythene and polypropylene break down into harmless chemicals,
and I believe that the other ingredients aren't particularly toxic
or permanent.

| What actually has to happen to something in order for it to have
"biodegraded"?
| Break down into component chemicals?

To have broken down as result of biological action.



Indeed. So something that is biodegradeable may break down to harmful
chemicals, whilst something that is inert (and thus not biodegradable), for
example glass, may have no effect on the environment (after its
manufacture).

Usually (always?) there is an implicit 'its a good thing' associated with
the word biodegradeable, for no good reason AFAICS.

--
Tumbleweed

Remove my socks for email address