Compost bins are environment-friendly additions to your home that eliminate waste through the natural decomposition process. While there are off-the-shelf alternatives for compost bins, there is nothing like creating and using your own. 

Let’s explore some DIY kitchen compost bin ideas to reduce your household waste without creating a mess. 

6 DIY Compost Bin Ideas 

Composting involves combining green waste (vegetables, eggshells ) with brown waste (cardboard, newspaper) until it creates a nutrient-rich mixture for the soil. If you are an avid gardener, you can repurpose your kitchen leftovers to enrich the soil quality. 

Here are a couple of different compost bin ideas for your home.

1. Garbage Can Compost Bin

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You only need a garbage can with a lid to create this quick compost bin. Use a bungee cord to tighten the lid and place your bin on a pile of bricks. You’ll also need a drill to poke holes into the side of the bin and on the cap for draining and aeration. 

Now you can use this bin to create the compost-like mixture over time without letting the liquids spill onto the ground and causing a mess. 

2. Cardboard Compost Bin 

A cardboard box is another cost-effective option that yields optimum results. This is a great zero-waste composting option, as the box is biodegradable. For this DIY compost bin, you’ll need the following: 

1. A large cardboard box 
2. Loose soil 
3. Leaves 
4. Yard trimmings 
5. Food scraps 

Remember that this idea is a temporary method and can only be used during the dry seasons. Choose a location that gets enough sunlight and has a proper covering. Place the organic materials inside the cardboard box and let it do its magic! 

Check the compost every week and mix its constituents. With full cardboard boxes, you can expect them to last over one year, depending on the climatic conditions and location. The best part is that the cardboard box decomposes, too, so there will be zero waste in this method. 

3. Wooden Lattices

Flickr Image by daryl_mitchell (resized)

If you dislike collecting compost in a storage container and then transferring compost to the soil, this DIY compost bin is the perfect option. Wooden lattices can be pieced together quickly and serve as a dedicated spot for composting. 

This method involves more work, but the result is worth it! You can also follow the tutorial below to create a bin like it or as a springboard to a cool custom-made one for your garden. Cedar contains natural oils that make it decay-resistant without requiring sealants. This compost bin is ideal for a large outdoor space. 

1. Empty the compost materials onto the first bin by layering the compost mixture (green nutrient-rich materials with brown carbon-rich materials) 
2. Transfer the contents to the second row when the first bin is full. 
3. Fill a new pile of organic materials in the first bin and repeat the process.

Successively relocating the compost materials allows the ingredients to get mixed up extensively. The continuous process of transferring the compost from one bin to another allows for better airflow. 

4. Plastic Compost Bin

If you have a large plastic storage container like the image above, you can easily create a compact, stress-free storage bin. We will repeat the process on this compost bin. 

1. Drill ten holes in the lid and the bottom of the bucket. 
2. After completing the first step, drill evenly spaced holes around the wall of the bucket for aeration purposes. 
3. Lay sticks or bricks at the bottom so your drainage holes won’t get clogged up with debris. 
4. Fill the plastic container with debris and secure it with an air-tight lid.

To mix the compost, you’ll need to open the container weekly and stir it with your hand. 

5. DIY Trench Composting 

This composting method is for someone who already has a garden and is looking for a quick and easy way to be mindful of their waste. You can build a trench compost alongside your plant row. 

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You’ll need a shovel to dig a deep trench for this method. The trench should be roughly a foot deep for holding 6 inches of compost material. After filling the defined trench, pick up your shovel to cover the hole with the remaining soil. 

6. Compost Screen 

A handy dandy compost screen works as a reliable vessel for composting. This method is extremely user-friendly regardless of how time-consuming the process of creating a DIY screen may be. As you notice the chunks of non-degraded compost, you can easily sift through the pile without much hassle. 

To create a DIY compost screen, you’ll need the following things: 

• Two by four lumber pieces 
• Hardware cloth is essentially a wire with squares. 
• Galvanized screws 
• A drill 
• Staples and a staple gun 
• Wire cutter 

Assemble the following things and simply create a four-sided frame with lumber. You can do this by setting the pieces and joining them with the help of screws. Next, staple the hardware cloth on all the sides and trim the extra edges. You can even use handles on the sides to properly transfer the compost. 

Conclusion 

There you have it! Some reliable and quick DIY compost bin ideas to remove waste from your house and enrich the soil. 

With these DIY ideas, you’ll be able to live sustainably while giving back to the environment. We hope these ideas gave you an insight into which compost bin works best for you.

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