Compost Bin, For Secondary Aging of Compost

[jeff9366]

I have a heavy plastic compost bin which receives organic kitchen material, weeds pulled from landscaping before seed stage and a minor amount pine shavings from animal bedding. However, the material I collect accumulates faster than the bin will finish compost it.

I am looking for a second STURDY bin or cage, approximately 4' X 4' X 4' or larger, to hold mostly processed material from lower half of plastic bin until it is finished compost. Bin does not have to be insulated.

All of what I have seen is flimsy. I want something STURDY, which will meet my wife's standard. I need a bin that will "unlatch" so I can fork finished compost into the bucket of my tractor.

Maybe something improvised from cut stock panels, held together with clips or heavy cable ties?

What is the readership using?

 

[CalG]

I use a single sided bin. It's called "the ground", and is available almost everywhere but on a ship at sea.

After the initial couple of weeks to break down in the plastic bin, the secondary pile is not so objectionable out in the open. Sure is easy to turn with the bucket that way too! Worms love it!

 

[oldballs]

Years ago I used pallets standing on end to form an octagon with one pallet missing for an opening....guess that would be a septagon.:laughing:
I even slapped some old red cedar colored stain on it to pretty it up. Then I turned it with a pitch fork every couple weeks....as I recall.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[jeff9366]

Years ago I used pallets standing on end to form an octagon with one pallet missing for an opening.

I use a single sided bin. It's called "the ground", and is available almost everywhere but on a ship at sea.

No good. Bin has to be at least organized appearing, if not pretty.

 

[MossRoad]

Oh, one of them fancy, shmancy bins.... for your garbage. :laughing:

I use metal T-posts that I set skids (really nice looking fancy skids from the upscale stores in the good neighborhoods) over to make a three sided bin. I use a fourth for the "door" with a T-post wedging it shut from the outside. You could get fancy and use re-bar in one end of the door to make it swing. Skids allow air circulation and if they rot, they're free, so bust em up and compost them, too, or just recycle them on bonfire Friday's.

 

[jeff9366]

I live in a La-De-Da planned community and the suggestions so far, if adopted, will have the Homeowner's Association Police and Special Forces viewing me with Extreme Prejudice.

 

[California]

Here's what I built up from a heavy pallet (2x4's) and scrap redwood planks. The planks on the opening side aren't attached to anything, simply held by the overlap of the corner uprights.

Maybe paint or stain it to reach the La-De-Da standard of beauty?

 

[MossRoad]

I live in a La-De-Da planned community and the suggestions so far, if adopted, will have the Homeowner's Association Police and Special Forces viewing me with Extreme Prejudice.

Oh man, the composter cops!

How about some composite skids like these?

 

[RalphVa]

I just pile my stuff in a pile on the ground, in the shade of a tree.

Wish I had an enclosed one to put my kitchen compost with a little bit of leaves to compost it. Animals tend to dig it out of the main pile. Pouring urine over it deters them a bit.

Doesn't have to go to compost. Can use as mulch before this.

Ralph

 

[cqaigy2]

Man, that's a fancy pallet! How come you never see those in the free pallet stack?