3 best garden compost bin

A garden compost bin is an essential tool for composting organic materials and turning them into nutrient-rich compost for use in gardening and lawn care. Here's what you need to know about garden compost bins, including their types, benefits, and usage:

  1. Types of Compost Bins:

    • There are various types of compost bins available, including:
      • Tumbler Compost Bins: These have a rotating design that makes it easy to turn and aerate the compost.
      • Stationary Compost Bins: These are fixed containers that allow compost to decompose in place.
      • Worm Bins (Vermicomposting): Worm bins use worms to break down organic matter quickly and are ideal for kitchen scraps.
  2. Benefits of Using a Compost Bin:

    • Reduces Waste: Composting diverts kitchen scraps and yard waste from landfills.
    • Creates Nutrient-Rich Soil: Compost is a valuable soil conditioner, improving soil structure and providing essential nutrients to plants.
    • Environmental Benefits: Composting reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with organic waste decomposition in landfills.
  3. How Compost Bins Work:

    • Compost bins provide an environment where organic materials, such as kitchen scraps, yard waste, and leaves, can decompose.
    • Microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, break down the organic matter into nutrient-rich compost through a natural process.
    • Aeration and moisture control are essential for efficient composting.
  4. Setting Up and Using a Compost Bin:

    • Choose a suitable location for your compost bin, preferably on a level, well-drained surface.
    • Layer green materials (nitrogen-rich, like food scraps) and brown materials (carbon-rich, like leaves or paper) to create a balanced compost mix.
    • Turn or mix the contents of the bin regularly to provide oxygen to the microorganisms and aid decomposition.
    • Keep the compost moist but not overly wet, as excess water can slow down the process.
  5. Composting Tips:

    • Avoid adding meat, dairy, and oily foods to your compost bin, as they can attract pests.
    • Chop or shred large materials into smaller pieces for faster decomposition.
    • Use a compost thermometer to monitor the temperature; composting occurs most efficiently at temperatures between 120°F and 160°F (49°C to 71°C).
    • Composting can take several months to a year, depending on various factors, including the type of bin and environmental conditions.
  6. Harvesting Compost:

    • When the compost is dark, crumbly, and has an earthy smell, it is ready for use.
    • You can harvest compost by removing the finished material from the bottom of the bin and using it to amend garden soil.
  7. Maintenance:

    • Regularly maintain your compost bin by ensuring it stays properly aerated and balanced with green and brown materials.
    • Clean the bin periodically to prevent odors and pests.

In summary, a garden compost bin is an eco-friendly tool that enables you to recycle organic waste into nutrient-rich compost for your garden and lawn. By following proper composting techniques and maintaining your bin, you can create a valuable resource that enriches your soil and reduces waste.Different types of compost bins are available to suit various preferences and space constraints.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best garden compost bin on the market
  

Garden Composter Bin Made from Recycled Plastic – 110 Gallons (420Liter) Large Compost Bin - Create Fertile Soil with Easy Assembly, Lightweight, Aerating Outdoor Compost Box – by D.F. Omer

DF OMER

Based on 819 reviews Check latest price

Product description

A Spring in Your Garden’s Step!



Cultivating the perfect garden takes time. You devote hours to planting, watering, and tending to your plants, but store-bought fertilizers can include chemicals that burn your plants rather than nourish them. D.F. Omer’s outdoor compost bin is the remedy to all your gardening woes. Some of the many great benefits you create with composting are:



  • Strengthening Soil: Mixed together, soil and compost formulate a healthy and balanced structure to nourish your plants from within! Your plants will thank you for this yummy snack by producing a bountiful harvest.



  • Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Feed you plants and give back to nature! Compost bins permit organic material to naturally break down, reducing methane emissions, your carbon footprint, and contributions to our stressed landfills.



  • Saving Money: By creating your own nutrient-rich soil and growing delicious produce at home, you reduce the need to buy store-bought versions. Your wallet will thank you!



    Watch Your Garden Flourish!



    Give your plants the vitamins they crave with soil that you’ve made! The nutrients needed to grow beautiful flowers and delicious fruits and vegetables can be created right in your back yard.



    How to Use Your Composter:



  • Assemble the composter. It’s simple. Let the easy-to-follow online manual take you through every step.
  • Simply add your yard and kitchen scraps on top.
  • Rotate the composter periodically.
  • When soil is ready, open the sliding door on the bottom, fertilize your garden, and watch your flowers bloom like never before!



    Room to Grow!



    If your plants are begging for even more delicious compost, purchase an additional 220 liters to add on to your existing 420-liter container.



    Turn yesterday’s scraps into tomorrow’s fertilizer by adding this composter to your cart TODAY!

    • CULTIVATE YOUR GREEN THUMB – Rendering nutrient-filled soil for your garden can be a challenge for even the most seasoned gardeners. But with D.F. Omer’s compost tumblers, the process is so straightforward that anyone can transform their backyard into a personal paradise.
    • RESURRECT YOUR LEFTOVERS – Limit your waste and save money by adding a composter bin to your backyard. Simply fill your bin with organic waste, use your vitamin-enriched soil from your compost box, and reap the benefits of delicious, home-grown produce.
    • MADE FROM PREMIUM RECYCLED PLASTIC – This composting bin is made from BPA-free recycled plastic to ensure toxins will not take away from valuable vitamins. Plus, the black PP plastic maintains heat and regulates moisture for a shorter composting time.
    • AERATION STATION – Composting can be an involved process, but D.F. Omer’s composting bins are easy to assemble and simple to use, so you can get to composting quickly without digging, shoveling, or hand mixing. And with a handy and secure lid, keep away pesky critters from your valuable food scraps.
    • OUR PROMISE – Protected by our two-year warranty, you’re guaranteed to receive the most well-designed compost kit on the market. If you have any issues, our dedicated customer support team will be there to assist you in all your horticulture ventures.
  • User questions & answers

    Question: There's no open door on the bottom for me. Are you suppose to cut the opening in the bottom
    Answer: Yes, you need to carefully use a knife and hammer to remove the cover of the lower door. Please refer to our online assembly instruction on this link: https://build.dfomer.com/420l-2/
    Question: What are the dimensions of this product once assembled
    Answer: The dimensions are provided in the description: 32 x 32. Thus the maximum footprint is ≈32" x ≈32".
    Question: Does it have a bottom
    Answer: No.
    Question: I just received mine today and some of the corners were broken during shipment. Not sure if it will all snap together. What should i do
    Answer: Call amazon and send it back for a new one. If the corners are broken it wont snap together.

    MaxWorks 80699 Garden Compost Bin Tumbler, 42 Gallon Capacity with 2 Chambers Dual Rotating Composting Tumbler

    MaxWorks

    Based on 446 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    Our MaxWorks tumbler is designed so you can compost in as little as 2-4 weeks. Features dual-chamber Tumbling composter, one for maturing compost & the other for new waste. Rugged recycled plastic bin with powder coated steel frame for durability. Includes adjustable air vents & a large 42 gallon capacity.

    • Constructed from rugged and durable polypropylene Bin with powder coated Steel frame to provide years of service while maximizing capacity to decompose
    • Features air vents or aeration holes with two sliding doors allow user to provide the desirable amount of oxygen going inside the compost for better and quick results
    • Designed with dual chambers to make the composting process simple and more effective while providing best quality results. It treats soil waste to decompose in an ENVIRONMENTAL way. Compost waste in just a couple of weeks with proper maintenance by turning 5-6 times every couple of days and get results in 2-4 weeks.
    • First panel for preserving mature compost while the 2nd chamber for new waste and scraps. Two separate panels will allow proper rotation of composting process to produce enriched compost.
    • Its space-saving and space-efficient design makes it a perfect compost/tumbler in any given space. Maximum capacity of 42 gallons and assembled size of 28. 50" X 26" X 36. 80"

    User questions & answers

    Question: Do you have to add straw or any carbon ratio or is it just food waste
    Answer: This works very well for a composter. Easy to put together.
    Question: Is the plastic BPA free
    Answer: Yes. There are indent places as handholds to help roll it on its base. I like my 2.
    Question: Can I get some assembly instructions or a link please
    Answer: 6 x 10 inches
    Question: Has anyone had this long enough to get usable compost? If so, would you recommend it for someone who has never done composting before
    Answer: My unit opens very easily. I have to clear the door occasionally of small debris that collect in the track the door uses. If yours was difficult to open day one use some sand paper on the door ( bottom and top edge) and / or the main unit track (to remove any plastic molding leftovers). This could solve the problem and be easier on you than a return. If no amount of removing burrs etc. helps the situation then a return may be necessary. Mold injection plastic is notorious for having to have its edges cleaned up a bit. This often is not done as much as is needed at the end of the manufacturing process. I regularly have to finish the job on plastic mold injection products. I love my unit. It is the perfect size for my porch and for me to pick up and empty. It does spill out small particles through vent holes... something one needs to expect and understand as part of the design.

    Product features

    MaxWorks 80699 42 Gallon Dual Tumbler Composter / Tumbler

    MaxWorks was conceived by our customers' need for a high quality value brand and we are committed to provide you the best possible product quality and value. We are proud and grateful for the positive reviews from our customers and we at MaxWorks will continue to work hard to deliver the service that you require.

    Algreen Products Soil Saver Classic Compost bin

    Algreen

    Based on 1 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    This Original SoilSaver Classic Compost bin Saves Money by Reducing Curbside pickup and Landfill Waste. It produces Nutrient Rich organic Soil for Healthier Plants and Gardens. Now you can help the environment while also helping your family save money with the SoilSaver. Soil produced is natures' own fertilizer and Soil Conditioner. This Composter Includes a Locking Self-Watering Lid, 100% Recycled Material, Military grade Rugged Construction, 2 Sliding Doors, openings for aeration and a free composting Guide, "A Sense of Humus."

    • Produce rich organic dark compost humus in 6 to 8 weeks from food scraps, kitchen and garden waste
    • Save up to 30% of household waste while saving money on applicable curbside pickup costs; Made from BPA free 100% recycled environmentally-friendly material
    • Locking Self-Watering Lid keeps animals out while openings allow air to move through composter to speed up the composting process
    • Large opening makes for easy access and Two sliding doors make removal of compost simple and convenient
    • Robust thickness and construction helps produce and insulate heat which helps the micro-organisms breakdown waste to produce nutrient rich soil.Capacity (cu. ft.) - Total:12.65.Capacity (gallons):94

    User questions & answers

    Question: How much do these things smell? Want to put composter inside a small area behind our shed if the smell won't nauseate the kiddos
    Answer: We have one in our backyard and I almost never smell it. The only time I have noticed a smell has been when the lid is open and I am dumping more kitchen scraps in it and even then it's not that often. All the compost books say if it does smell bad that means you need more greens or browns depending on the smell.
    Question: What is the capacity
    Answer: According to the calculator, 12 cubic feet equals almost 90 gallons--if you're mixing your nitrogen to carbon ratios using 5 gallon buckets. This looks like an excellent explanation for how to fill your composter: https://savvygardening.com/compost-how-to-guide-based-on-science/
    Question: Since it doesn't have a bottom, will that work on our patio? We live in a condo and only have a large patio area that is concrete
    Answer: I wouldn't use this in your situation. It would definitely stain the patio. I'd find a different design. Also you'll need to make sure you have enough dry material in the composter or it will stink if your compost is mostly kitchen scraps. In your situation I'd probably go for worm composting. My daughter made a vermicompost kit out of a couple of inexpensive storage bins at a camp a number of years ago. One has holes drilled into it and the other is solid so any worms or leakage will go into the outer bin. Here is an article on the subject: http://compost.css.cornell.edu/worms/basics.html You need to get red worms or red wigglers from a bait store, not common earth worms from the soil for best results.
    Question: How do the top doors open? Easy enough to do one handed? Do they keep out the raccoons
    Answer: I have not had any problems with raccoons or rodents at all. The top locks tightly. And yes, I can open it one handed to throw in a small amount of scraps but otherwise, two hands work better to take the entire top off when adding large amounts, leaves or twigs and grass clippings. Remember to turn it at least once a week - I use a pitchfork to do that task. Good luck!

    Product features

    Composting: Help Yourself and the Environment at the Same Time

    The composting trend is growing and the most recent research shows that In 2012 the U.S recycled and composted almost 87 million tons of municipal solid waste. This saves more than 1.1 quadrillion Btu of energy; that's the same amount of energy used by 10 million households in one year.

    Over 19 million tons of yard trimmings were composted in 2012, which is 5 times more than in 1990.

    Food waste is the single largest type of item thrown away making up 21 percent of everything we throw out. We might as well use this food waste to fertilize our gardens rather than paying to have it sent to a landfill! The Soil Savers extra large capacity make it perfect for accommodating a good deal of food scraps.

    Access Your Compost Easily

    Dual hatch doors allow you convenient access to your compost whenever needed.

    The Advantage of SoilSaver Bin Composting

    The items you put in first will be at the bottom and should be the first out. This is a big benefit because you can use a little compost at a time if you need to. This is an advantage compared to most tumbling composters. With many tumbling composters, all the old scraps are mixed with the new waste which means all of the compost in the bin needs to be ready before you can use any of it.

    More Advantages of the Best Compost Bin

    The slots and louvers throughout the compost bin let air in and out for aeration which helps food waste break down quickly into rich compost.

    The 0.200" thick resin walls provide excellent strength and durability.

    The extra large 12 cubic foot capacity means you will have plenty of space for your compost waste

    Lid is easy to open and lock making it convenient to add to your composter while keeping animals out

    A Sense of Humus goes Well with Compost

    A simple to follow yet comprehensive guide helps you put the right food waste and yard trimmings into your composter.

    Backed by a 20 Year Manufacturer's Warranty

    Contact us with any concerns and we'll get back to you as soon as soon as we can.

    100% Recycled Material Used for The Soil Saver Composter

    Constructed with high quality food grade material that is BPA free.

    Manufactured in Canada

    This composter is built to withstand extreme temperatures and the suns UV rays.

    Recycled, Recyclable and BPA Free

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