The Trash Can Compost Bin

We all want to be greener, healthier, and wiser, but we don't have to break the bank to do it. Here's my garbage can composter. It's a simple, wallet-friendly way to start composting at home, not to mention a good family project.

To Build a Trash Can Compost Bin

• A plastic or metal garbage can; it must have a locking lid
• A drill
• A hole saw bit for metal doors - I used the size for the peep hole
• Three or four cinder blocks - they should have holes for drainage

If you're getting help from the kids or other enthusiastic family members, it's best to put a piece of 2"x4" in the can so it doesn't accidentally get crushed. Even the metal cans can still be bent back into shape, but the lid might not lock as securely as you'd like. The hole saw bit cuts easily through either the plastic or the metal with little resistance. To make, simply cut holes all around the can, including the bottom and the lid. We had the kids paint the can afterwards as an art project. Make sure the lid keeps a secure lock. Use cinder blocks for proper drainage into the soil.

Using Your Homemade Composter

To use, take it out to your garden and add a thin layer of soil to the bottom, then add your kitchen scraps and other compost material. Each time you add kitchen scraps, shredded newsprint, sawdust or similar materials, cover them with another layer of soil. Do not add manure, as this unit does not heat sufficiently to biodegrade pathogens.

If you have a fish tank (as long as it is not saltwater), pour the wastewater into the barrel each time you clean it. This adds extra nutrients to the compost. One advantage of this composter is that you can move it each season, so you do not saturate the ground in one area. I used mine in my tomato beds one year and had fantastic results with heritage Beefsteak tomatoes.

Once in a while, stir the contents – I used a hoe, but only after it was halfway full. It can dry out in summer, but adding fish tank water, creek water, rainwater or tap water will solve that problem.

Depending on the weather, it will take four to eight weeks to break down standard kitchen, lawn and garden waste. You know how much waste you produce. I found that once I filled the composting can three or four times, I left it alone, stirred it once or twice a month, then worked the compost into the bed after cleaning it up in the fall. My family of four actually needs three units for the year.

Handy Uses

This unit can also be used in winter, not for composting but for compost storage. Keep three or four units somewhere accessible, though not too close to the kitchen, so you can reach them throughout the colder months. For winter use, metal bins are recommended. Plastic garbage cans can warp in freezing temperatures and may crack or shatter if overfilled.

During winter, simply dump household compostable material into the bins daily. I used a square wastebasket that fits standard grocery store paper bags, which are completely biodegradable. Fill the bag and dump it into the bin, taking care with wetter materials. Roll down the top of the bag, flip the contents onto drier materials, and transfer everything to the compost cans.

In spring, once the contents have thawed, slide them out. After setting up your beds and composting areas, shovel the thawed material back into the composting cans or add it to your compost pile. Because it was previously frozen, it breaks down very quickly. It does require plenty of air, so if you are returning it to the cans, stir thoroughly to aerate.

If the material starts to smell or becomes slimy, add dry organic matter and stir. This does not require anything elaborate – untreated wood chips, dry grass clippings or shredded newspaper will work well. If you have nighttime visitors, make sure the composter sits on solid footing, as it can fall over. I used four cinder blocks, which worked well. A friend used four bricks and, although she had to dig them out in fall, found they worked just fine.

Have Fun with this Project!

The garbage can composter makes a great project for kids to build and paint, though adults should handle drilling the holes. It also makes a fun garden gift for family and friends.

Do not add shiny magazine paper, computer paper (which is treated and can be toxic), or meat. While meat and even cat or dog waste can be composted where municipal laws allow, doing so requires a much larger, actively managed compost pile. A pile needs to be at least eight feet square by six feet high to generate enough heat to properly break down that type of waste.

For a smaller project like this, it is best suited to kitchen scraps and typical suburban garden waste. Remember to have fun and enjoy your green spaces.