Compost Bins
When getting started with composting, one of the first decisions that will need to be made is what type of compost bin you will use. There are many different types of compost bins that you can choose from, based upon your preferences, the amount of space you have available for composting and your budget.
The main element that all compost bins have in common is that they must be able to hold heat in order to allow the materials to compost properly. In many ways, compost bins work like ovens. The only difference is that in addition to holding heat, compost bins must also be able to retain moisture as well. While it is quite possible to compost using a pile rather than a compost bin, the advantage to using a compost pin is that they make everything look nice and neat. In addition, compost bins can help to contain the odors that are sometimes associated with composting.
One mistake that some people make when composting is choosing to use a wooden fence or some other structure as a sidewall for composting. The problem with this is that the process of active composting will eventually decompose the structure in addition to discoloring paint and destroying wood that has not been treated. As a result, you should use only compost bins that are made from plastic, metal or cedar. This will help to prevent decay and rust from occurring. Cedar wood will work well due to the fact that it is resistant to decay.
You will need to choose from an enclosed compost bin or an open sided compost bin. The advantage to enclosed compost bins is that they do tend to hold moisture as well as heat better than open sided compost bins. The disadvantage is that they are also generally smaller. Due to the fact that enclosed compost bins hold the moisture and heat better, they also tend to allow the materials to decompose faster. Open sided compost bins are larger and hold more material but because they operate slower, they may not compost as much material over time as an enclosed compost bin.
The size of your space may also dictate which type of compost bin you choose. Enclosed compost bins tend to work better in small yards while open sided compost bins would not work so well in smaller and more urban sites.