Building your own bin is a great way to customize a system to fit your composting needs. Things to consider before beginning construction include: what you will be composting, space needs, available time, and building skills. The page on "Choosing a System" provides more information about what systems are best for composting different materials (plant trimmings alone, fruit, vegetable and plant trimmings combined, or fruit and vegetable trimmings alone).
Following are designs for several home bins:
E-Z Wire Bin
- Composting system: plant trimmings alone (unless hoop is made rodent resistant)
- Requires minimum 3'x3' yard space
- Not rodent resistant
- Produces small to large amounts of compost
- Very easy to build
- $15 - $30 for new materials
Materials
- 10'x3' piece of heavy-duty wire mesh fencing or hardware cloth (1/4", 1/2", 1", or 2" mesh)
- (4) 5" pieces of 14 gauge insulated wire or other easy-to-twist wire larger than 12 gauge
Assembly & Installation
- Form hardware cloth into a hoop, overlapping the ends 3 or 4 inches.
- Attach ends of hardware cloth with 5" pieces of wire.
- For best results, install in a location that is protected from the wind, and where there is enough space to turn the compost easily (about 3'x6'). Compost can be turned by unfastening the hoop, setting it up in an adjacent spot, then forking the compost into the hoop in its new location.
Plastic Worm Bin
- Composting system: fruit and vegetable trimmings alone
- Very easy to build; tidy for indoor use
- Plastic bins keep compost moist-Will require regular additions of dry bedding
- $6 - $20 for new materials
Materials
- (1) Plastic storage container with a tight fitting lid - 12" to 18" tall, 12"x24" base
Tools
Power drill (1/4" bit) or utility knife
Assembly
- For indoor use, drill several holes for ventilation about halfway up the sides of the bin. For outdoor use, holes can be drilled in the bottom for ventilation and drainage. To reduce fly infestation, keep holes small.
Closed Air Composter
Materials
- (1) plastic garbage can, 32 gallon or larger
- (1) piece 1/4" wire mesh hardware cloth to cover bottom of can (about 2'x2')
- (16-20) 1/2" galvanized, Phillips-head wood screws
Tools
- Power drill-driver (or a Phillips screwdriver, hammer and a medium-sized nail), tin snips, utility knife.
Assembly and Installation
- With a utility knife, cut a hole out of the bottom of the can, leaving just a 1" edge for attaching the screen.
- With tin snips, cut hardware cloth the same size and shape as the bottom of the can.
- Attach hardware cloth to the outside of the bottom of the can with the 16-20 screws spaced about 4" apart. If you are using a hand screwdriver, poke holes for the screws with the hammer and nail. With a power drill-driver, no pre-drilling is necessary. When finished, be sure the screen fits tightly against the can so there are no openings larger than 1/4".
- Install bin (or bins) by digging a hole and burying the bottom 12"-18". Be sure to pack the soil firmly around the edges.
3-Bin System 
- Composting systems: plant trimmings alone, or fruit, vegetable and plant trimmings combined
- Requires minimum 3'x 9' of yard space
- Excellent for hot composting - has removable front slats for easy turning, and separate bins for turning and aging compost, and/or storing compostables
- Can handle large amounts of compostables
- Carpentry skills needed for construction
- $175 - $200 for new materials
Materials
- 2x4" wood*: (8) 31 1/2", (8) 36", (4) 9', and (4) 29" pieces
- 2x6" wood: (4) 36" pieces
- 2x2" wood: (6) 34 1/2", (1) 9', and (4) 29" pieces
- 1x6" wood: (19) 31" pieces
- 1/4" mesh hardware cloth: 30'x3'
- Carriage bolts (3-1/2"x3/8"): 12, with washers and nuts
- 12 penny galvanized nails: 2 pounds
- 8 penny galvanized nails: 1 pound
- Poultry wire staples: 1 pound
- Corrugated fiberglass (4 oz.): (2) 8'x26" pieces
- Gasketed roofing nails: (40)
- Wiggle molding: 18 feet
- 3" hinges (zinc plated, galvanized or brass): (3)
- 4" flat corner braces: (4) with 1" wood screws
- 4" flat "T" braces: (4), with 1" wood screws
- (4) hook eyes, and 8' of strong twine or chain
*Bin dimensions based on planed wood.
Tools
- Power saw (use eye protection) or hand saw, drill with 3/8" and 1/16" bits, screwdriver, hammer, tin snips, tape measure, pencil, socket or wrench, carpenter's square.
Two Bin Adaptation
- You can make a two bin composter for a smaller yard by carefully adapting the materials list. drawings, and assembly instructions.
Assembly
Main structure
Butt nail two 31 1/2" and two 36" 2x4s together with 12 penny nails to form each of four screen dividers. Cut four 36x33 1/2" wire mesh pieces, and staple (every 4") to frames after checking frames for squareness. Bolt dividers to three 9' 2x4s as shown (inside measurement between dividers should be 31 5/16"). Tack in 29" 2x4s as shown. Staple one 9'x3' piece of wire mesh (every 4") to back of structure, and one 9'x3' piece to the bottom.
Slats and slat tracks
Nail 2x6s to front of dividers. Nail 34 1/2" 2x2" onto frames as shown. Leave at least 1" for the slats to slide in. The last slat of each bin section needs to be cut lengthwise to fit.
Lid
Assemble lid frame as shown, with flat corner and "T" braces on the bottom side. Pre drill nail holes every couple of feet into wiggle molding humps, and attach molding to 9' 2x2 and 9' 2x4 with 8 penny nails. Note position of wiggle molding on 2x4 in drawing. Cut fiberglass into five 32" pieces with tin snips. Pre drill fiberglass and wiggle molding on top of every third hump, and nail together with gasketed nails. Be sure to overlay fiberglass pieces at least one channel wide, and before attaching the last piece, trim off excess fiberglass. Attach lid to frame with hinges. Attach heavy duty twine or chain to lid and main frame with hook eyes as shown (to prevent lid from falling all the way back).
Urban All Wood Bin
- Composting Systems: plant trimmings alone, or fruit, vegetable and plant trimmingscombined
- Has 2 front doors for easy harvesting and turning, a top that doubles as a sifter, and a full wire mesh lining
- Produces small to large amounts of compost
- Carpentry skills needed for construction
- $100 - $120 for new materials
Materials
- (8) 8' 1x6 wood
- (2) 8' 2x4 wood
- (1)10' 2x4 wood
- (3)6' 1x4 wood
- 15' 1/4" wire mesh hardware cloth
- (4) 5" drawer handles
- (8) 1 l/2" hooks and eyes
- (8) 4" corner brackets with l/2" wood screws
- Waterproof wood glue
- (20+) 8 penny galvanized nails
- (125+) 6 penny galvanized nails or screws, and a power drill driver can be used instead (250+) 3/4" poultry wire staples
*Bin dimensions based on planed wood
Tools
- Power saw (use eye protection) or handsaw, screwdriver, hammer, measuring tape, pencil, square, drill with 1/16" bit, sandpaper.
Assembly (Glue all wood pieces before nailing)
- Nail 2x4 bottom frame together with the larger nails. Be sure the finish dimension is 30 l/2x31 l/4"
- Build sides by nailing bottom and top 31 l/4" 1x6s to the 2x4s (use smaller nails). Be sure bottom 1x6s hang down 3 l/2" below 2x4 uprights (see overhang detail). Fill in the remaining 1x6s equally spaced, with no gaps larger than 1/4"
- Attach sides to base by nailing 3 1/2" overhang to base as drawn (with smaller nails). Toenail 2x4 uprights into bottom frame with larger nails. 4. Nail the six 32" 1x6s to back by first attaching the top and bottom pieces, then filling in the remaining four, spaced equally
- Before cutting pieces for the front doors, measure the actual opening at the front of the bin, and make sure to cut the 1x6s just l/8 1/4" smaller than the opening. Build top door by nailing three 1x6s to the two 17 3/4" 2x4s with 1/4" between each board as shown. Build bottom door by first nailing on the top two 1x6s(1/4" apart), then measuring the remaining space, and cutting the last 1x6 lengthwise to fit
- Attach eyes to front 2x4 uprights, and hooks to front doors as drawn
- Build lid by pre drilling and tacking together as drawn (using smaller nails), making sure the finished dimension is 35x35" and square. Then pre drill and screw the corner brackets to the inside corners, and the top 1x4s into place. Cut a 33x36" piece of wire screen and staple it in as shown in detail drawing
- Cut remaining screen to fit - staple side, back and door pieces inside bin on 1x6s (not over 2x4s). Staple bottom piece onto the underside of bin.
2 Person Wooden Worm Bin
- Composting system: fruit and vegetable trimmings alone
- Basic carpentry skills needed for construction
- Doubles as a seat!
- Breathes well - will need occasional watering
- $20 - $30 for materials new
Materials
- (1 ) 4'x4' piece 1/2' exterior grade plywood
- (3) 6' pieces 2x2" wood
- (1) 4' piece 2x4" wood
- 1 pound 4 penny galvanized nails
- 16" light chain with (2) 1/2" wood screws
- (2) 2" hinges, with 3/4" wood screws
- Waterproof wood glue
Tools
- Power saw (use eye protection) or hand saw, hammer, measuring tape, pencil, square, drill with 1/4" and 3/32" bits, sandpaper
Assembly (Glue all wood pieces before nailing)
1. Base
Nail the two 23" 2x4s and two 19 7/8" 2x2s to bottom of 23x23" plywood as drawn. Drill several 1/4" holes for drainage.
2. Side, Front and Back Walls
Nail the four 2x2 uprights to the two side walls along the 11 3/4" edge, with one end of each 2x2 flush with the top edge of the walls. Nail a 19 7/8" 2x2 hinge support to the top edge of the back wall piece, leaving 1 1/2" on each side for 2x2 uprights. Assemble box by nailing the 1 1/4" overhang of the side walls to the 2x2s on the base as drawn. Then nail the front and back walls to the 2x2 uprights and to the 2x4s on the base as drawn. Be sure the hinge support is at the top of the bin.
3. Lid
Nail lid together as drawn. Attach to box with hinges, making sure to pre drill screw holes into the 2x2s, and position hinges as in detail. Attach chain with 1/2" wood screws so lid can rest in an opened position.
You can become a Bay-Friendly Gardener with these resources:
|
