How to Make a Compost Bin Out of Wood Pallets

Wood pallets are a readily available and often free source of materials for a compost bin.

Compost is the lifeblood of any organic garden. Plant-based kitchen and yard waste can be transformed into nutrient-rich soil that is full of micro-organisms to improve the quality of your garden. There are many fancy and expensive compost bins on the market. However, some of the most effective compost bins can be made with little effort and money. Wood pallets are ideal because they are often free and readily available. They also provide adequate airflow through the bin.

Things You'll Need

• 4 wooden pallets
• 6 wood stakes, 2-feet longer than the pallets
• Mallet
• Compost materials
• Straw
• 4 strips of wire, 12-inch

Instructions

1. Select a spot for your compost bin. Ideal locations would be close to the garden so that once the bin has completely composted, you can transfer the soil to the garden beds.

2. Place the pallets upright to form a bottomless box. The pallets will form the walls of the bin. Slide a stake in each corner of through the center of three of the pallets. The fourth pallet will be wired shut to allow access to the bin.

3. Drive each stake into the ground with a mallet. The stake should be driven in so that it is level with the top edge of the pallet.

4. Place compost scraps into the bin. Cover the scraps with straw.

5. Wire the top and bottom corners of the removable fourth pallet to the side pallets. Twist the wire tight.

Tips & Warnings

• Add equal parts of green materials–such as grass clippings, vegetable scraps, dried leaves and straw–to achieve desirable conditions in the compost heap.

• Wear gloves to protect your hands while working with the pallets to avoid getting slivers.

References

• Gardeners World: How to...Build a Compost Bin
• Earth Easy: How to Build a Compost Bin

Resources

• The Greenest Dollar: How to Build a Pallet Compost Bin