How To Make A Compost Bin From A Plastic Dustbin

Do you want to learn how to make a compost bin from a plastic dustbin?

Are you a composter? If you are and are looking for an easy compost bin you can build yourself in just a portion of an afternoon. You’re in the right place.

In the last gardening post, you learned whether rabbits eat zucchini or not. In this post, you’re going to learn how to make a compost bin from a plastic dustbin. It’s the perfect cheap and easy DIY compost bin whether you’re a beginner composter or an off the grid homesteader.

After reading this post, you’ll know exactly how to make a compost bin from a plastic garbage can for less than $20.

DIY Composting Dustbin

It’s always fun to take an afternoon and dig into one of the DIY projects that you’ve been thinking about. When you start exploring gardening, composting, and growing your own survival food, you’ll learn how important composting is. Here’s an efficient DIY bin you can do in an afternoon.

Step 1: Select Your Bin

Since the theme of this a guide is how to make a composting bin with plastic dust been going to assume you want to make a composting bin from a plastic dust bin with that being said do you have to use a plastic and dust bin.

No, you don’t. You can use a couple of different items to accomplish the exact same type of  Ben.

You can use a large plastic garbage bin that you see on the side of the streets, most homeowners use them to take out their trash.

Do you really need is a large plastic bin that has a tight-fitting lid that goes on the bench?

The reason we need the lid to be as tight as it can be on the top is to keep the soil moist and also to keep the bugs and critters out of your bin.

One option would be to get one of the plastic bins at Lowe’s for around seven dollars.

When it comes to composting bins, there are dozens of different options for the system that you use. Also, there are dozens of different DIY bins you can make in just an afternoon.

Some are simple and inexpensive and some are labor-intensive and require a small loan in order to build.

This bin that we’re going to make, this project can be done with less than $20 and possibly even free if you already have a plastic dust bin that you want to use.

Step 2: Composting Drills

After you’ve selected your plastic dustbin, it’s time for step two, we’re going to drill a few holes in your bin.

Get your electric drill out and you want to drill 8 to 12 small holes in the bottom of the plastic bin. The reason for the holes is for aeration purposes.

Step 3: The Base

Create the base for your compost. Create the base at the bottom of your bin. The base consists of shredded newspaper or dry leaves, or both.

Cover the entire bottom of the bin with either or and fill the bin about 20% full.

Step 4: Get Dirty

Now let’s add dirt on top of your base. Take your soil and dirt and sprinkle a layer on top of the base until the container is about halfway full.

Step 5: Get The Scraps

Now for the food scraps that you want to compost, you’re going to add the scraps into your bin now.

Here are a few types of food scraps that work well for composting. You want to make sure you’re using the right kinds of scraps because there are things that you can and cannot compost.

For example, eggshells are composter friendly, while lime is not compost friendly because limes are too acidic which would cause your compost to spoil.

Step 6: Shake It Up

Now, you want to stir everything in the bin with your choice of stirring method. It’s recommended to use either a stick or a shovel. Just make sure to cover the food scraps with the dirt, that’s the key.

Step 7: Moisten Your Compost

One of the best methods to do this is to spray down your compost with a spray bottle, use lukewarm water if you can. Spray the compost. Spray until it’s moist but not moist enough to be dripping water. Putting too much water in your compost could be could result in a smelly situation with your composting dust bin.

Step 8: More Drills

Just like the holes you drilled before in the bottom of your brain now you just want to drill another 8 to 12 small holes in the lid. After doing that please the lid on the bin and make sure it’s secure so that it’s securely tight on top of the bin shop. Having the lid securely on the bin is going to help with the airflow inside of your bin.

Step 9: Location

Now it’s time to find a spot for your compost location. When it comes to location putting in the bin in a shady area away from the house is ideal.

Be sure that it’s not directly in the sunlight if it’s left directly in the sunlight your compost will dry out and you’ll have to start over. Putting your bin behind some bushes or shrubs works well. This also has an added bonus of hiding your compost bin from possible composting fees.

Step 10: Practice Patience

Now your composting dust bin is officially set up we want to add a few food scraps when we’ve got them periodically.

Now, what do you do? Now you just have to exercise some patience. We have to wait 2 to 4 months before the compost will be ready for use in your yard or garden. When it’s done it can be used for putting soil or mulch or it can even be sprinkled over your grass which acts as a conditioner to your lawn.

Each time you add some food scraps make sure that you restore the compost. Stirring it on a continuous basis helps break everything down faster. Having a small compost and recycling container in your kitchen for easy access after eating is ideal.

In Conclusion

Just like every gardener and farmer knows, first we plant, and then we harvest, and when we collect and if the rain comes and destroys your harvest, van brush it off and re-plant and re-harvest we all reap what we sow but if we do not sow we do not read.

Now you know how to build a compost bin out of a plastic trash can. Did you ever think you would be able to make a composting bin out of a plastic dustbin so easily?

We hope this post on how to make a compost bin from a plastic dustbin helped you. You might also like our article on different DIY homesteading projects and also how to grow your own food with a survival garden.

Have you taken up vermin composting yet? When you’re ready to make your own worm composting bin, check out the DIY worm compost bins that are even easier than this one.