Trash can compost bin

erin8606

I'm looking to make a composting bin out of a trash can. H doesn't really want to pay $$ for a decent bin from amazon but he said he'd help me make one from a trash can since it was mentioned in a book. Just wondering if anyone has done this? Did you saw off the bottom of the can or drill holes or what? Thanks in advance!

Hey Jellisy

We got one off of Freecycle.  It has holes all over but the bottom is intact.  It has it's advantages - it's cheap, easy to construct, holds a lot BUT it's a pain to turn.  We have a nice compost tumbler (Lifetime, $100 from Costco) that we love best.  We now use the trashcan one to store compostable materials when the tumbler is in "working" and not receiving any mode.

~NB~

Make one. A few pieces of pressure treated wood for the frame, some galvanized screws to hold it together, and some rigid mesh or chicken wire for the body.

kastle

We have 2 trashcan "composters".  Both have holes drilled everywhere: top, bottom & sides.  Use the largest drill bit you have and put as many as you can in there...more air = more decomp.

it is more difficult to "turn" than a tumbler, but it certainly does work.

We have 2 so that one is "cooking" or finished compost and the other is the one we're adding new materials to it.  

doneatquattro

kastle:

We have 2 trashcan "composters".  Both have holes drilled everywhere: top, bottom & sides.  Use the largest drill bit you have and put as many as you can in there...more air = more decomp.

it is more difficult to "turn" than a tumbler, but it certainly does work.

We have 2 so that one is "cooking" or finished compost and the other is the one we're adding new materials to it.  

this exactly

pixieprincss

Here is our homemade one.