Maya Ellison
Composting is a great way to recycle food and yard waste into nutrient-rich soil. Setting up a plastic compost bin is a convenient and relatively inexpensive way to get started with composting. Commercially available plastic bins are a good option for beginners, but they do have some design constraints, such as limited space for turning the compost mixture and the inability to create hot compost piles. To set up a plastic compost bin, choose a bin that is at least 18 gallons in size and has a lid. Drill holes 1 to 2 inches apart on all sides of the bin, including the bottom, to allow for air circulation and drainage. Place the bin in an area that receives indirect sunlight, as plastic can break down under UV light. Add a layer of twigs, sticks, or scrunched-up cardboard at the bottom of the bin for aeration and start adding your compost materials, maintaining the proper ratio of brown to green ingredients. Turn the compost mixture once a month using a pitchfork, shovel, or winged compost aerator to speed up the decomposition process.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Compost Bin | Plastic |
| Cost | Relatively inexpensive |
| Size | No smaller than 18 gallons |
| Shape | Round or square |
| Aeration | Holes in the side or a system drawing air from the bottom to a top vent |
| Contents | Organic materials, twigs, sticks, cardboard, food scraps, tea bags, coffee grounds, egg shells, paper, grass clippings, etc. |
| Maintenance | Turn the compost mixture once a month, add water occasionally to keep it moist |
| Time | Fastest decomposition in 6-12 months |
| Other Tips | Use a compost shredder for large amounts of material, chop fruit and vegetable trimmings, shred leaves, add shredded paper to prevent insects |
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What You'll Learn
Choose a bin that's at least 18 gallons with a lid
When choosing a compost bin, it is important to select one that is the right size for your needs. The amount you cook and the types of food you eat will determine the size and style of the vessel that will work best for you. If you are looking for a compost bin with more odour control, a smaller bin with a capacity of around 1 gallon and a fully removable lid is a good option. These smaller bins are big enough to be practical and user-friendly, while also being small enough that you will need to take the compost out regularly, reducing odours and mould.
However, if you are looking for a bin that can hold more compost, there are larger options available. The Exaco Eco 2000 Kitchen Compost Pail, for example, has a capacity of 2.4 gallons, making it a good choice for larger families or high-volume cooks. Another option is the OXO Easy-Clean Compost Bin, which has a capacity of 1.75 gallons and is a good choice if you are looking for something that will hold several days' worth of scraps.
If you are looking for a bin that is at least 18 gallons, you may need to look for a larger outdoor compost bin. Round or square commercially available plastic bins are a convenient and relatively inexpensive option for backyard composting. These bins are often made available by municipalities at a discount to residents interested in recycling food and yard waste.
When choosing a compost bin, it is also important to consider the proper ratio of 'brown' to 'green' ingredients. 'Brown' materials provide a source of carbon, while ''green' materials provide nitrogen for the microbes in the compost. Additionally, it is important to turn the compost mixture to aerate it, and to add water to keep the mixture moist.
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Drill holes 1-2 inches apart on all sides
To set up a plastic compost bin, you will need to drill holes for aeration. Microorganisms need moisture, air, and warmth to effectively break down organic material into compost. The holes should be 1 to 2 inches apart, and you should drill on all sides of the container, including the bottom. This will allow air to circulate around the compost, helping it to decompose faster.
Drilling holes in your plastic compost bin is especially important if you are using a plastic storage container as your bin, as these containers do not breathe. You will need two containers, one to catch the liquid that leaches out of the first bin. This liquid, called "compost tea," can be used as a fertilizer in your garden.
If you are using a commercially available compost bin, it may already have aeration built into it. Some bins have simple holes in the side, while others have a system designed to draw air from the bottom to a vent at the top. You can also create air spaces by placing twigs, sticks, scrunched-up cardboard, or similar materials at the bottom of the bin.
To further aid in aeration, you can use the \"lasagna\" method of adding ingredients by layering brown and green materials. Brown materials, such as sawdust, provide a source of carbon, while green materials, such as grass, provide nitrogen. Adding a few sticks or larger wood chips to the bottom and throughout the layers will also help to aerate the compost and speed up the decomposition process.
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Layer brown and green materials
Layering brown and green materials is a key part of setting up a compost bin. Brown materials are carbon-rich, and green materials are nitrogen-rich. Browns provide a food source for soil-dwelling organisms, which work with microbes to break down the compost pile. Greens, meanwhile, heat up the compost pile, helping microorganisms to grow and multiply quickly.
When layering, the ratio of brown to green materials is important. A good ratio to follow is six inches of brown materials, and two to four inches of green materials, repeated as necessary. If your compost pile is not heating up, you may need to add more green material. If your compost pile is starting to smell, you may need to add more brown material.
Brown materials include dead or dry leaves, newspaper, dead plant clippings, wood branches, hay, straw, sawdust, and pine needles. Paper and cardboard should be shredded first, and only small amounts of sawdust should be used. Walnut leaves should be avoided, as they contain substances that inhibit the growth of many plants.
Green materials include grass clippings, food scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, and fresh leaves. Coffee grounds and manure are particularly good for heating up compost. If using manure, it is important to only use poultry, horse, cow, chicken, rabbit, sheep, goat, or bat manure.
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Chop or shred materials for faster decomposition
Chopping or shredding materials into small pieces accelerates the decomposition process. This is because smaller particles provide bacteria with a larger surface area to work on. However, avoid grinding food waste into a paste, as this would hinder airflow and not produce the desired fine, earthy pre-compost.
Before adding them to the compost pile, chop or shred corn cobs, broccoli stalks, and other tough food scraps into pieces no bigger than 3 or 4 inches in size. For leaves, you can shred them before putting them into the bin to speed up decomposition. Branches and twigs can be shredded or cut into smaller pieces. Similarly, shred or tear non-glossy newspaper, office paper, cardboard, or dry leaves and soak the bedding material for 10 minutes. Wring it out so it feels like a moist sponge.
Shredded paper can also be added to the top of your compost bin to act as a barrier for insects. Worms will nest in the shredded paper and feed on it.
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Aerate the bin regularly
Aerating your compost bin is essential to the composting process. Microbes break down organic materials to create nutrient-rich soil amendments, and these microbes need oxygen to survive and function. Turning your compost is one of the best ways to aerate it, and there are several methods to do this.
One method is to use a pitchfork or shovel to turn the compost mixture. You can also use a "winged compost aerator" or a compost stirrer, which is a straight metal bar with a handle and hook at the end. These tools can be purchased online or at hardware stores. Turning the compost will create pockets where oxygen can enter the pile and supply the microbes.
Another way to aerate your compost is to poke holes in it with a bar or stick. You can create holes both vertically and horizontally to allow oxygen to penetrate the pile. Additionally, you can introduce sticks or larger wood chips at the bottom of the compost bin to trap air. However, keep in mind that wood takes longer to rot, so it may not break down when you turn your compost.
If you have a multi-bin composting system, you can aerate your compost by moving it from one bin to another as it fills. This method provides the added benefit of thoroughly mixing the compost.
It is recommended to aerate your compost bin about once a month. By regularly aerating your compost, you will create an optimal environment for microbial activity, leading to faster decomposition and the production of nutrient-rich compost.
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Frequently asked questions
The bins should be no smaller than 18 gallons, and one must have a lid.
The ideal situation for good composting is a mixture of dry (brown) and moist (green) organic materials. Brown materials provide a source of carbon, while green materials provide nitrogen. Examples of brown materials include twigs, sticks, cardboard, and sawdust. Green materials include fruit and vegetable peels, rinsed eggshells, paper egg cartons, coffee grounds, coffee filters, tea bags, shredded paper, paper napkins, towels, toilet paper rolls, and grass clippings.
Materials should be chopped into small pieces, no bigger than 3 or 4 inches in size, so they break down quicker. You can chop, slice, or grind materials using gardening shears, a knife, blender, food processor, or lawnmower.
Once a month is usually sufficient for aerating the contents of a plastic compost bin. You can aerate the bin by giving it a quick shake or turning the compost mixture with a pitchfork, shovel, or winged compost aerator.
