After cooking a delicious meal, we are bound to have scraps of food laying around. Instead of throwing it away in your trash can, use it to give back to the environment!
By creating your own compost bin, you are reducing landfill waste and benefiting the earth through creating a natural fertilizer that helps crops and plants grow. It is easy to make a compost bin that is the right fit for your home. A small indoor compost bin may be good for those living in smaller spaces such as an apartment while a larger outdoor compost bin may be good for those who have a garden.
Indoor Compost Bin: What You Need
- Medium Container with Lid
- Drill
- Mesh Screen
- Hot Glue Gun
- Soil (Optional)
- Shredded Newspapers (Optional)
Instructions:
1. Drill Holes In Container Lid: drill a few evenly spaced holes in the lid for ventilation. The airflow is necessary to help the materials decompose.
2. Add Mesh Screen: cut and glue a piece of mesh that is large enough to cover the air holes. This layer will help prevent bugs such as fruit flies from being attracted to the bin.
3. (Optional) Add Soil and Newspaper: To help your compost bin get started, you can add a layer of soil and shredded newspaper before adding your food scraps.
4. Dispose: When ready, you can dispose of the content of your bin into your outdoor compost pile (soil for your garden) or search for the nearest compost drop-off.
Tip: To help with any odors your bin may produce, try adding more shredded newspaper to the bin. This can help balance the wet-dry ratio and prevent a strong odor from leaking.
Outdoor Compost Bin: What You Need
- Lidded Large Trash Can or Bin
- Drill
- Soil (Optional)
- Shredded Newspapers (Optional)
Instructions:
1. Drill Holes In Container Lid: drill evenly spaced 3 inch holes on the side of your trash can/bin for ventilation. The airflow is necessary to help the materials decompose.
2. (Optional) Add Soil and Newspaper: To help your compost bin get started, you can add a layer of soil and shredded newspaper before adding your food scraps.
3. Dispose: When ready, you can dispose of the content of your bin into soil for your plants or search for the nearest compost drop-off.
Tip: Not only do food scraps belong in the compost, but grass clippings, leaves, finely chopped wood, and sawdust are also a great addition. However, be careful to not add any diseased plants, animal feces, or treated wood.
Sources:
https://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/compost/diy-indoor-compost-bin/