Compost bin recommendations

by Hairyloon 9th May 2011, 11:42 am

I am in need of a compost bin to replace a crap one.
It needs to be square.
Any recommendations?

It has just occurred to me that there is a load of left over "kingspan" insulation boards. I could make a bin out of those and it would keep the compost warm... But are they durable enough in that situation?

by Chilli-head 9th May 2011, 12:29 pm

If the kingspan is of the appropriate thickness, could it be shoved into the "cavity" of old pallets to make an insulated bin ? It might then stand up better to the inevitable bashes with fork and spade when turning/emptying?

by Compostwoman 9th May 2011, 12:33 pm

I guess you want to make, rather than buy? Very Happy

Make a square (pallet) wood compost bin.

Either take the pallet to bits and make a bin OR use the pallets whole to make one. I would fill in some or all of the slats though as the gaps allow a bit too much air in and you get incomplete composting there.

Not that it really matters too much, you can always put the stuff " side to middle" to compost a bit more.

Kingspan will degrade if left outside and will then fill your compost with little bits of...kingspan stuff. Shocked

by Hairyloon 9th May 2011, 12:55 pm

Compostwoman wrote:I guess you want to make, rather than buy?

Not necessarily. This is for the daughters' mother and she's a fussy cow.

Kingspan will degrade if left outside and will then fill your compost with little bits of...kingspan stuff.

What degrades it? Sun, wind or water? Or compost?
It could be covered to protect it from most of the above... and are the bits harmful? Hope not, the amount of dust from them I must've consumed. :?

by Compostwoman 9th May 2011, 1:11 pm

Ok if buying is an option I suggest The Recycleworks Wooden New Zealand bins. I have many( lots!) and they are very good indeed.

Which is why I have them advertised on my blog. If she buys them by clicking through my blog I get a small commission, as well.....

They are modular so can be arranged in many many ways as well.

IME, Kingspan seems to degrade by UV and also water, but slowly...Not sure about the toxcicity, you could try going a google....

by Compostwoman 9th May 2011, 1:22 pm

COSHH date for it HERE

Urathene dust is a noxious dust (as classed by HSE) so not sure I would want it in my compost.

by mr_sfstk8d 9th May 2011, 3:07 pm

No, I think not either CW. However, if he's talking about sealing it off in some way, it could hold up, I think. Wrapped in heavy, black, non-porous sheeting, for example. I must think that mechanical damage (spade and fork) would be the limiting factor of this material though. So, back to the recylcing ideas, cut to size to slip into the spaces in pallets, wrapped in material, then put in. Just take care not to stab through the pallet gaps into the sheathing.

That said, how much of an issue is there in having to add insulation to a compost heap? Under what conditions would it be necessary?

by Compostwoman 9th May 2011, 3:46 pm

Insulation would help to keep things going in the winter - in the UK compost bins tend to slow down a lot over the winter months

Mind, you, I keep a number going strong in the winter and they still get up to 55 C ish - so they are working well.

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