Compost Bin Information

Most people who compost will state that a bin is not usually an absolute necessity for outdoor composting. If you prefer using a bin, it's relatively simple and frequently far less expensive to build your own. One cheap and easy option is to drill holes in a plastic or galvanized garbage can. A number of sites offer plans and instructions for building your own bin from other materials. Here are a few:

Environmental Defense Fund

Composting 101

Better Homes and Gardens and HGTV.com both have compost-bin building plans.

Some municipalities or counties may offer composters at discounted prices as part of a special recycling initiative. You might not get much of a choice, but the bin might be free or cheap.

Two examples can be found at:

Composting in Santa Cruz County, Calif.

StopWaste.org

Pet owners probably know that pet waste is too dangerous to compost ordinarily, as it may contain pathogens or parasites that are harmful to humans. A few products are available for those who wish to safely compost pet waste, however. One such digester, the Doggie Dooley Dog Waste Disposal System (*est. $50) is installed in the ground and allows broken-down material to drain safely away below the surface while using enzymes to break up the organic waste. These types of digesters aren't routinely featured in expert reviews, but a dozen or so customers on Petco's website stated they would recommend the Doggie Dooley. Only one person notes an offensive odor, while the other reviewers say odors weren't a problem. Two users mention that the system had been advertised as sufficient for two dogs, but, in reality, the dogs must be small for the claim to be true. Importantly, another customer points out the system cannot be used below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, which precludes its use during the winter in many parts of the country.

Mother Earth News has an excellent article on getting started with composting.

The Environmental Protection Agency also has good information and tips on composting.

Thorough overviews of the composting process are available at CompostGuide.com.

At the Master Gardeners of Mercer County website, Barbara Bromley, a horticulturist, offers a detailed fact sheet called "Composting."

At Composting101.com, there is also a detailed overview of getting starting in composting called "The Dirt on Composting."

Planet Natural features a "Compost Bin Buyer's Guide" by Eric Vinje with information on how to choose the right composter for your needs, as well as several articles on vermicomposting that may be especially educational for novices.

Clean Air Gardening offers a short but helpful "Compost Bin Buyer's Guide."

Additional information for the compost bins included in our report can be found at the following manufacturers' sites:

Envirocycle

Gaiam

Gardener's Supply Company

Mantis

NatureMill

Smith and Hawken

Triformis

Tumbleweed

Urban Gardener