Choose From the Many Compost Bins

The difference between a vibrant, lush produce and flower garden is all in the soil. You can go to the local retailer and purchase several bags of organic soil, have manure delivered, or you can turn your kitchen waste into excellent vermi compost for free.

There are so many choices of products to choose from when selecting a composter. There are plenty of outdoor systems that compost all your yard waste such as hedge trimmings, grass cuttings and fall leaves. Other units are smaller and can be used indoors or in the garage and will compost your biodegradable waste. Did you know that 60% of what we through away can be composted? Many cities require each resident to purchase and use a special waste container that can be picked up and dumped into a waste truck. Bins are used for the recyclable items. A fee is charged monthly based on the amount of waste you dispose of. Composting bins are a great way to create the very best vermi compost soil for your yard and plants while shrinking your carbon footprint and saving money. So, which will provide the best results?

Following are the pros and cons of the various types of compost bin. Read through teh pros and cons before you buy.

Types of Compost Bin

Wooden Compost Bins

Benefits

• Porous material is the best for worms to survive. Unlike plastic, wood is highly porous.
• If created properly, wooden compost bins can be attractive and serve as a raised garden bed.
• Compared to plastic, wood is a better insulating material. It is therefore, extremely beneficial in the cooler months.

Despite its innumerable advantages, wooden compost bins suffer from certain setbacks.

Disadvantages

• The porous quality in wood is both a benefit and a curse. As wood allows healthy circulation of air and oxygen movement, the material in the bin dries faster.
• Wood has a shorter life span. It tends to deteriorate faster; as it is more sensitive to weather conditions and insects.
• Wooden bins may be really heavy to carry. Add to it the weight of the worms and bedding; it may be impossible for you to shift it from one location to the other.

The other material popularly used for compost bins is Plastic.

Plastic Compost Bins

Benefits

• Plastic bins are easily and more widely available at stores.
• Plastic compost bins are light in weight and easy to move.
• Plastic compost bins are extremely easy to assemble.

Disadvantages

• Unlike wood, plastic is a non-porous material. It retains moisture efficiently. Although worms like moisture, excess water may create hazards; as worms cannot swim. Ensure that the plastic compost bin has a drainage system to drain out the excess water. Most reputed brands sell compost bins with an efficient drainage system.
• Because plastic is not as porous as wood, you may need to drill a few holes here and there for the bin to breathe.
• It is challenging for worms to survive in the warmer months. Plastic heats faster than wood; which may not prove healthy for the worms.

Once you decide the type of material for the compost bin, you need to choose the size of the bin. Compost bins are available in various shapes and sizes. Choose one that fits into your needs.

Making a Choice

• Choose the size based on the amount of organic waste in the house. If you are a vegetarian, you tend to have more organic waste.
• Consider where you will place your compost bin. Choose one that fits into the available space. It needs to be an area where sun will not shine on it directly, and it can remain dry. A garage is an excellent choice; however that is not always possible for those living in urban areas. There are those that are specifically designed for apartment/ condo living spaces.
• Check the charts that give you a basic idea of how much waste can be composted weekly based on the size and ages of your family members. These charts will also tell you how many worms you will need to compost your weekly waste. For instance a family of 4 can have 6 to 8 lbs of waste weekly. 2 to 4,000 worms are needed to compost that amount of waste. So a 3 to 5 tray system would work nicely.

Choose the suitable material and ideal size for you compost bin and boast of a greener, well-nurtured garden.

The author is a passionate fisherman and writes extensively on compost bin, fishing worms related topics for fishing.