If more bedding, more bedding, and more bedding isn't enough to absorb the extra moisture, you might want to hold back the melon for a while or at least greatly reduce the amount of it you put in the bin.

Another strategy might be to put the melon rinds in your freezer in an open bowl or container for a day or two and let them get a serious case of freezer burn. Then thaw them and drain off the extra water. This won't dehydrate them all the way but it will reduce the water content somewhat.

I wonder about the overall amount of food scraps you are putting in, in relation to the amount of bedding. Bad smelling leachate and lots of it still sounds like overfeeding.

Are you putting whole rind chunks in? If so, maybe you can run it through a blender first and then strain with cheese cloth or nylon hose by winding it up and letting it drain into the sink for a half hour before feeding. Also you could try putting down a VERY THIN bed of powdered up grain (like a layer mash or corn meal or instant oatmeal) first and putting the melon rind on top of it... but you'll have to be very careful not to overdo the grain. I will go along with theparsley... this may simply be a case of overfeeding them.

Emily, the above ideas are all good ones. Might I also suggest that you don't add the leachate back into the top tray - water the leachate down with good amounts of water and add it to your garden or compost bin where it will be doing some good rather than keeping your bin too wet.

I've just recently started my first wormbin360 (all others have bin DIY) and haven't had a drop in the catchment tray. Mind you I have one of the 4 trays with only shredded newspaper just below the active tray. Bedding in the feeding tray is mostly coconut coir which I've never tried before. When I first added the worms (about 1/2 lb) they stayed all balled up together for about 24 hrs before they started to migrate into the rest of the bedding. I was a bit worried at first but all seem to be happy now.

Harry

You learn after the first melon run. Personally I scrap off all the melon flesh I can , but first I put lots of paper bedding to soak up the water. It is the only time I get any drainage out of my 360. I know this since I leave the valve open and a cup under it. Its mostly bone dry.

The only time I have a bad smell might be right after a fresh feed or when I feed broccoli.

Why are you putting the lechate back in if your problem is too much moisture??

Mine adore melon and I don't do anything to cut back on the water it adds, I just empty the drain into outdoor decorative (non-edible) plants.