Celebrate “culture” in agriculture & share skills like growing, cooking, canning

Trash Can Compost Bin

Since we live in
a rental house, I wanted to make a compost bin that I could easily move when we buy a house. After looking at the expensive plastic barrel style models, I chose to make a compost bin out of a trash can and saved myself about $100. To mix, I simply roll the can around for a couple of minutes. In order to turn the ordinary trash can into a compost bin, all I had to do was drill holes in the bottom and sides of the can. I placed the can on bricks to allow drainage from the bottom. So far, the bin is working great. I'm amazed at how much produce our household is wasting. Now, I'm shopping more often and buying less at a time.

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Comment by Jessi Smith on June 14, 2010 at 7:10pm: The lid pops down to lock into place just above the handles. I just roll kind of gently. So far it hasn't come off.

Comment by Cornelia on June 14, 2010 at 3:33pm: This is so simple. I may have to steal your idea. I have one question, though: When you roll the barrel, how do you secure the lid? How do you keep it from coming off?

Comment by Patti Wigington on June 14, 2010 at 12:20pm: Good for you! This is awesome. Like you, I've seen the commercially available compost bins and decided they weren't for me. Last year for Mother's Day I had my husband and son build me one out of scrap lumber, and it sits right next to my garden for easy access. The trash can is a great idea - rolling it around saves you the effort of mixing your compost with a pitchfork like I do.