Composting is an easy, low-cost way to recycle kitchen scraps and yard waste into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. It reduces landfill waste and can be started with simple supplies you likely already have. Below is a straightforward method for creating a basic plastic-bin compost system that can be assembled in about an hour.
There are many ways to compost, from simple DIY bins to larger, more elaborate setups. This guide follows a quick, practical approach that works well for beginners and those with limited space. The steps below are easy to follow and require minimal tools.
Steps For Making Your DIY Compost Bin
- Find a plastic storage bin
- Drill holes in the bin
- Create a dry base
- Add soil
- Add food scraps and yard waste
- Mix and moisten
Step 1: Select Your Bin
Choose a plastic storage bin with a tight-fitting lid that is roughly 24 inches tall or taller. The lid helps retain moisture and keeps pests out. A 30-gallon bin is a common size that works well for household composting. Dark-colored bins warm up faster, which can speed decomposition, but pick a color that suits your outdoor space.
Step 2: Drill Holes In Your Bin
Drill 8–10 small holes in the bottom of the container to allow airflow. Composting microbes need oxygen to break down organic material. A 3/16″ drill bit or similar works well. Repeat the same pattern of holes in the lid to enable ventilation. Keep the lid nearby but don’t seal it until the bin is filled and ready to be closed tightly.
Step 3: Create Your Brown Base
Compost works best when you balance “browns” (carbon-rich materials) with “greens” (nitrogen-rich materials). Start by adding a layer of dry leaves, shredded paper, or small twigs to the bottom of the bin—about one-eighth to one-quarter of the bin’s depth. This dry layer helps with drainage and air flow.
Step 4: Add Soil
Add a layer of garden soil or topsoil on top of the dry base until the container is roughly half full. Soil introduces beneficial microorganisms that help decompose organic matter. It’s not necessary to have worms in the soil, but they will naturally migrate in if conditions are suitable.
Step 5: Toss In Your Food Scraps!
Now add your “greens”—food scraps and other compostable items. Good choices include:
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Coffee grounds, filters, and tea bags
- Eggshells and nutshells
- Paper and cardboard (shredded)
- Yard waste like grass clippings and small trimmings
Avoid adding dairy, fatty foods, cooked meats, or pet waste, which can attract pests and create odors. Small amounts of lint or paper can be added as brown material when needed.
Step 6: Stir Your Compost
Lightly turn or mix the contents with a shovel, stick, or garden fork so that food scraps are covered by soil and browns. Turning helps aerate the pile and speeds decomposition. How often you turn depends on the system—every few weeks is sufficient for a small bin.
Step 7: Moisten
Lightly moisten the compost with lukewarm water until it feels like a damp sponge—not dripping wet. Excess water can cause anaerobic conditions and unpleasant odors, so aim for consistent, moderate moisture.
Step 8: Choose a Location
Place the bin in a shady, convenient spot away from your house to avoid unwanted odors or pests near living areas. Partial shade prevents the compost from drying out. A patio, balcony, or a tucked-away corner of the yard works well for smaller bins.
Step 9: Collect Compostable Materials Indoors
Use a small airtight container or counter caddy to collect kitchen scraps between trips to the outdoor bin. A sealed container minimizes odors and makes it easy to transfer materials when the bin is accessible.
When Is Your Compost Ready?
Decomposition time varies based on bin size, ingredients, and how often you turn the pile. Finished compost can take a few months to a year. Signs that compost is ready to use include:
- Original materials are no longer recognizable
- It smells earthy, not sour or acidic
- It has cooled and is similar in temperature to the surrounding air
- It is dark, crumbly, and not clumpy or overly wet
Finished compost can be used as mulch, potting soil, or a lawn conditioner. Keep a portion of finished compost to restart the process, or maintain a second bin for newly added scraps while the first matures.
This simple bin can be assembled for very little cost and makes a meaningful impact by diverting organic waste and enriching your garden.
Note: This content was originally published in 2008 and updated in subsequent years.
