Software
Houzz Logo Print
sigrida

How important is compost bin size?

last month

I have a bunch of leaf compost bins that decompose slowly and one for kitchen scraps, that I occasionally add grass clippings and leaves to, as long as I don't think they are too filled with weed seeds (meaning not much grass). I need another one for kitchen scraps and I'm wondering whether there's any benefit in having the bin bigger. I can easily add leaves in the fall, to bulk up. And grass, if it's not weedy. Note, I just want to dump compost and forget it, not fuss over making the perfect stuff.


What's your view on bigger vs, smaller?

Comments (3)

  • last month

    I have separate bins for kitchen scraps ( plus enough “ browns” to somewhat balance the wet fruit& vegetable scraps— a handful of leaves, any paper towels, tissues, small cardboard tubes). I use 2 ~ 32 gal plastic garbage cans, & what I like is that I keep adding & adding a c it keeps shrinking, but eventually I stool adding to one and let it “ finish “. The other one is by then “ finished” or already dumped, so I restart in that one. These are large enough to jump my kitchen counter compost container even when I’ve filled it up, & spread it out a bit in the outside composter to be a thinner layer each time, but small enough that I can dump out the finished compost. ( It does get heavy even though when finished it’s shrunk to 1/3 or so of the container.

  • last month

    Primary reason for large bin is to build and retain heat. Microbial activity equals heat which equals rapid composting. Little advantage in customary 3x3x3 bin unless it's filled in short order with mixture of N & C then occasionally watered and turned. Popular ways of handling ongoing small batches of kitchen scraps is 55 gallon flow through or tumbler and adding leaves,paper or cardboard with each batch.


    Something can be said for larger piles of leaves since interior retains moisture better.


  • last month

    If you plan on adding a lot to it prior to harvesting the contents, there's no harm in having a large bin from the beginning. Before I discovered a municipal leaf, grass, pumpkin dump that allows me to take what other people bring, I only added stuff to my bin that I needed to dispose of---yard waste, food waste. It never heated up.

    I read once---I don't know if it's true, but I accepted it as gospel---that cold compost makes a product with better disease suppression than hot.


    My mother made more compost than almost anyone I know. She had no clue what she was doing, had no intention of harvesting anything, and she didn't garden. What she did was send two young children out to the "mulch pile" several times a day with bowls of peelings or the output of yard chores. All anyone really needs to do is walk a path to their bin, and dump anything that will decompose---without harming the environment or the sensibilites of those who may pass---and walk away. You don't even need to harvest it if you don't feel like it. Just think of it as a way to manage your household waste.


    Regarding the size of your compost set up, I'd like to imagine that having six bins lined up along the roadside gains me the respect of all who pass. I'd like to imagine that, but I've heard differently.

    Sigrid thanked annpat
Sponsored
Cumberland Custom Homes
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars5 Reviews
Northern Virginia's Green Residential Builder & Renovator