Compost Bins Garden Nursery Landscaping Guide
Compost Bins To Recycle Organic Waste
By Pixie Matthews
In recent years, composting has enjoyed a resurgence of interest
as there has been more and more emphasis put on the need to recycle.
Not only is composting beneficial to the planet because it is
an effective way to recycle organic material, but it also creates
a wonderful, nutrient rich product to add to planting soil.
Compost bins provide a good way to get started with your own
composting project, which even people with small spaces can utilize.
Make Your Own Compost Bin
There are a number of different types of composters on the market
to meet a variety of needs and situations. Bins for composting
can be built from materials that you already have around the backyard,
or they can be purchased from garden supply stores, especially
those that specialize in organic gardening.
In some municipalities, the recycling centers provide bins free
or at a reduced cost to encourage people to recycle their organic
materials themselves.
Holding Units Require Little Maintenance
Holding units are one of the most basic types of compost bins.
These units require very little maintenance and are best suited
for people who want to start a home composting project but just
don’t have very much space.
With holding units, the compost pile is not turned. This means
the composting process is slower because of the lack of exposure
to air, so you should expect to wait anywhere from six months
to two years before your waste products have fully decomposed.
Portable Compost Bins
Portable bins are another common type of bins and they are very
similar to the holding units but they are able to be taken apart,
moved and rebuilt. Different types of materials can by used and
mixed with this kind of bin.
Many types of plastic portable units are available on the market
to purchase or they can be constructed out of wood and wire fencing.
Turning Unit Composters
One of the best types of bins is the variety called turning unit
composters. These are specifically designed to facilitate easy
turning of the compost pile which helps to aerate the heap.
Turning units will produce fully decomposed material in a shorter
amount of time because the composting process is accelerated by
the improved aeration, allowing the bacteria to better do its
job in the decomposition process. In addition, people like turning
units because there are less odor problems because of the improved
ventilation.
Turning unit composting bins can either be a set of bins or they
can be a device that easily rotates or tumbles such as a barrel
or a ball-type of unit. The drawback is that turning units generally
cost most, are harder to build and require more space.
The organic materials to be composted also need to be collected
separately until enough has been gathered to fill the unit to
the correct level and once it is full and the composting process
begins, new materials cannot be added.
A Simple Heap
Simple heaps are an alternative for people who do not want o
purchase or build composter bins. Turning a compost heap is always
optional, but it should be kept in mind that the process of composting
is accelerated when the waste material is turned at least a couple
times a month.
Where you place the composter in your backyard area will depend
a great deal on your function needs and also on the aesthetics
of the setting. You should place compost bins in partial shade
and where they will have good air circulation.
If possible, it is good to place your compost pile near your
garden and also close to a water source. The bins can be disguised
somewhat with fencing or bushes and it should not be near areas
that you plan to use for outdoor entertaining.
About the Author:
Pixie Matthews has written a number of articles on gardening and
landscaping including Organic
Vegetable Gardening Products, Vegetable
Gardening Tips, Spring
Vegetable Gardening, Compost
For Your Vegetable Garden, Vegetable
Gardening Tricks.
Keep a lookout for more of his articles on this website.
Little Known Composting Facts....
What is composting?
Composting is the process of taking organic
material and breaking it down through a variety of chemical and
animal processes to achieve fertilizer and plant building material
that is both cheap and highly effective. It is very environmentally
friendly and is a great way to avoid paying those high costs of
bags of fertilizer.
You can utilize those leftover food wastes, animal wastes, grass
clippings, branches and other organic materials to create a loamy
material that will help your plants grow to their maximum potential
like no other commercial grade fertilizer possibly can. The best
part is that it is free!
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