About Compost Bins
Composting turns waste materials such as kitchen scraps and yard debris into nutrient- rich soil that can benefit vegetable gardens and many other plants. Compost bins come in a variety of sizes and styles, and can make the composting process easier. Some communities offer free or low-cost compost bins to residents in order to encourage composting. Does this Spark an idea?
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Function
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Throughout history, many farmers and gardeners have created compost using simple compost heaps or piles. However, a compost bin can help make the composting process tidier, especially for those who live in residential neighborhoods or have limited space. Compost bins can also keep out pets, rodents and insects and minimize the smell of decaying material. Dark plastic compost bins can also speed up the composting process by keeping the biodegradable materials warmer.
Type
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Stationary compost bins can be simple metal, wooden or mesh enclosures, or plastic bins and barrels. These bins allow compost materials to be added a little bit at a time, and the compost can be removed from the bottom of the bin as it is created. Tumbling, or batch, compost bins are large plastic barrels attached to metal frames or rollers. This allows the compost bin to spin, or tumble, stirring up the contents. Tumbling compost bins require the compost materials to be added to the bin at the same time, such as a batch of fall leaves. Stacked compost bins are mainly used for vermicomposting, or red worm composting. Electronic compost bins may be used indoors or outdoors, depending on the model.
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Features
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All compost bins have sides, which can either be rectangular or rounded. While tumbling compost bins are completely enclosed, stationary compost bins often have a lid, but do not have a bottom, so the materials can stay in contact with the ground. Some of them are even designed to be partially buried. Some compost bins have solid sides, while others have slots or air holes to improve air circulation, and some have sliding doors near the bottom to make removing the finished compost easier. Many compost bins are made from recycled plastic.
Size
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Enclosure type compost bins, especially homemade ones, can be any size, from a few feet wide to over six feet across. Most tumbling compost bins hold about 50 to 80 gallons, while stationary bins often hold 80 to 150 gallons. Many stores also sell small composting crocks, which are not compost bins, but can temporarily store compost material indoors so it can be taken to the real compost bin at a convenient time. These stainless steel or ceramic jars hold about one gallon of kitchen scraps.
Time Frame
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The length of time it takes the biodegradable material in a compost bin to break down into usable compost depends on the type and size of the materials used, the type of bin, the temperature and how frequently the compost is stirred. A tumbling composer, turned daily, that contains the right balance of materials can produce compost in as little as one month. Compost bins that are rarely tended or contain too much dry or woody material may take a year or more to produce compost.
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