Making a rubbish bin into a compost bin

ejecoms

Our council has just delivered new microchipped bins to us and I was thinking of what to do with the old black bin. I'd like to convert it in to a compost bin. Would I just need to put some holes in the bottom and maybe a larger hole to get the compost out? Any ideas for this or other things to do with an old black bin would be appreciated,

Thanks!

matt987106

ejecoms wrote: »

Our council has just delivered new microchipped bins to us and I was thinking of what to do with the old black bin. I'd like to convert it in to a compost bin. Would I just need to put some holes in the bottom and maybe a larger hole to get the compost out? Any ideas for this or other things to do with an old black bin would be appreciated,

Thanks!

ive seen a plan somewhere on the net

it involves a series of holes around the 1/3 of the way up

then they fit a metal grill just below that, this stops the material falling though to the bottom

then fit a tap to the bottom of the bin, it was either a tap you can buy for a water but ( fit it on the side near the bottom ) or a waste tank connection ( fitted to the bottom of the bin )and a bit of hose with a tap on the end )

the idea is that the water / moisture etc goes to the bottom of the bin and is liquid fertilizer

then in time when the compost break down you can use that

best of both worlds

kate2510

If you have a sunny wall you can sink the bin into the soil at the base with a good layer of brick rubble covered with any old soil and plant a fig (you must contain the roots or you wont get fruit) Plenty of water, frost protection for the young fruits and pruning - easy.

I've heard you can grow new potatoes for Christmas in a bin - plant in September and earth up the top growth a few inches at a time with fine soil and/or multi purpose compost - you can reuse this after you harvest the potatoes. NB I haven't tried this - just passing on the method.

Lotus-eater

By old black bin do you mean the old style small dustbin? If you do these are a little small for a decent compost heap, but if you really want to use it for that, just chop off the bottom, you can also drill a few air holes in it if you like.

jellymid

I use some for growing fantastic carrots and parsnips. I filled mine with roots of bindweed and horsetail at the allotment. After excluding light for a couple of years I wasn't brave enough to use the compost on my plot, so planted the carrots and parsnips after making holes near the bottom. They have been really successful - and no carrot fly problems.

PhilCCFC

We have had our new bins delivered today aswell, I think I am going to use my old black bin to grow some more spuds in it.

jasmine33

I use mine as a water butt. I have a large greenhouse (which came with the house) and so I keep the water butt inside it and the water is always at a nice temperature for watering seedlings etc.