How to Make a Compost Bin From a Garbage Can

Compost is nothing more than decomposed plant material, so you don't need a fancy bin to make your own compost. You can create compost in a heap on the ground, but most gardeners think that containing your compost pile makes it look tidier. Here's how to make compost in a recycled garbage can.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Bricks
• Garbage Cans
• Garden Hoses
• Old Newspapers

1. Punch holes in a garbage can. The microbes that actually do the composting need oxygen to do their work.

2. Chop plant debris into small pieces and place them inside the garbage can. Ideally, you should use 50 percent green material and 50 percent dry, but you can use shredded newspaper for the dry material if necessary. You don't need to fill the can all at one time - just put in the plant material you have on hand.

3. Spray water over the chopped plant material inside the can, until the material is damp but not soggy.

4. Put the lid on the can.

5. Place the filled garbage can on bricks or several 2-by-4-inch pieces of lumber to keep the can off the ground and prevent it from rusting.

6. Turn the can as often as daily, or at least once a week. Lay the can on its side and roll it around to mix the plant material inside.

7. Add more plant material at any time.

8. Keep the compost about as moist as a wrung-out sponge by spraying it with water when the plant material begins to feel dry.

9. Harvest your compost after one month. Use a wire screen or piece of chicken wire to strain out the unfinished compost.

Tips & Warnings

• Compost can be used to top-dress garden beds or as potting soil for indoor plants.

• Once the plant material inside the can is no longer warm to the touch, the composting process is finished.