Compost Barrel vs. Compost Turner Great Yarmouth

A Compost Barrel or Compost Turner?

Which is best?

Compost barrels, compost drums and compost turners: If you want an easy life but you are prepared to compost your kitchen and garden waste, a ready-made compost barrel or compost drum or even a compost tumbler might be the answer.

They are also useful for storage of materials .

There are lots of designs on the market to choose from. Below I review the main types available for domestic use. If you are interested in product reviews I am adding them at the bottom of the page below.

Here are a few tips to help you choose wisely as part of your green living lifestyle!

Choosing a compost barrel or bin. Buy one that is large enough for your needs

Make sure it is vermin-proof.

Buy one that is durable - UV stable if it is plastic.

Get one with a stout rain-proof lid.

Is it large enough?

First, make sure that your compost barrel is large enough for your needs.

If you only want it to store composting materials until you get around to building a proper heap, you might be able to manage with a modest sized one.

However, if you want the compost bin to do the whole job, breaking down the contents into usable compost, then you will need quite a large one. Small ones just cannot heat up enough.

Most commercial bins are not really big enough to compost material effectively in a reasonable time.

Keeping vermin out

Another thing to consider does the compost barrel have a strong rat-proof base? Rats live practically everywhere on the planet. If you put out any cooked scraps or any food that is not completely rotten, they will be in there if they can.

Other animals will have a go too.

So your compost bin needs a stout base and lid. The lid should also be rain proof. There should also be a hatch to remove the compost when it is ready. This should be reasonably stout and well-fitting as it also will need to be rat-proof.

Durability

Next, check the durability of the product you are thinking of buying. Is it soundly made? If it is made from plastic, make sure that it is the type which withstands sun and temperature changes (UV stable) - most will be. Is there a guarantee? Some will be guaranteed for 5 or more years. Many will be made from recycled plastics. Compost bins made out of recycled plastics are usually very durable - this is not a second class option!

If you buy a cheap plastic barrel which is not designed for the purpose as a temporary solution, keep it out of direct sunlight. We don't want to fill the landfill sites full of derelict plastic compost barrels that would be a bit of a mini eco-disaster!

A proper compost barrel should be made of thick UV stable plastic, preferably from recycled plastic.

In Britain quite a few councils are offering discounted bins to the public as a way of helping everyone to reduce the compostable contents of their kitchen refuse.

This compost bin has been made...

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