Compost Bin for Family

[Anonymous]

So have families gotten trash can size compost bins now? We have a counter top the county gave us and it is full after one meal. I guess it’s for an adult living alone who eats the occasional banana?

We don’t have floor space for a compost trash bin; our trash/recycling is in a slide out drawer.

I wish there was a standard size trash can with two slits, one for trash and one for compost; that would be a plug in replacement.

What do others do? We end up with a paper bag on the floor all day for collecting compost and toss at end of day. It’s okay unless it gets too wet when it’s a bloody disaster.

[Anonymous]

Do you not have a yard at all?
You are keeing compostable biodegradable material in a drawer?? :o

[Anonymous]

In urban areas there are several options.

You should watch some youtube videos.

Here are the basics:

That countertop trash can thing is for keeping the compost until you bring it to the pile.

If you don't have a yard you can use a vermicomposter such as this:

https://zerowastehomestead.com/vermicomposting-how-to-start-worm-composting/#:~:text=Vermicomposting%20or%20composting%20with%20worms,into%20garden%2Dready%20worm%20castings.

If you have a yard you can use a rotating composter such as this if you are in a city and worried about rodents:

https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Gro-Dual-Chamber-Compost-Tumbler/dp/B0785HCXB5/ref=asc_df_B0785HCXB5/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=692875362841&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1193685731972832760&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007760&hvtargid=pla-2281435182138&psc=1&mcid=a7b11fdc33fc3d958b3d96a76423716d&hvocijid=1193685731972832760-B0785HCXB5-&hvexpln=73

Also, if you have a pick up by the county or city of compost, you just need a larger bin and to follow their rules about what to put in it.

If you don't have pick up then you want to keep it to yard waste, veggie waste, fruit peelings, egg shells, coffee grounds, etc. Half greens, half browns. I keep the fall leaves in a bin next to the compost and put a big scoop in every time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In urban areas there are several options.

You should watch some youtube videos.

Here are the basics:

That countertop trash can thing is for keeping the compost until you bring it to the pile.

If you don't have a yard you can use a vermicomposter such as this:

https://zerowastehomestead.com/vermicomposting-how-to-start-worm-composting/#:~:text=Vermicomposting%20or%20composting%20with%20worms,into%20garden%2Dready%20worm%20castings.

If you have a yard you can use a rotating composter such as this if you are in a city and worried about rodents:

https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Gro-Dual-Chamber-Compost-Tumbler/dp/B0785HCXB5/ref=asc_df_B0785HCXB5/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=692875362841&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1193685731972832760&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007760&hvtargid=pla-2281435182138&psc=1&mcid=a7b11fdc33fc3d958b3d96a76423716d&hvocijid=1193685731972832760-B0785HCXB5-&hvexpln=73

Also, if you have a pick up by the county or city of compost, you just need a larger bin and to follow their rules about what to put in it.

If you don't have pick up then you want to keep it to yard waste, veggie waste, fruit peelings, egg shells, coffee grounds, etc. Half greens, half browns. I keep the fall leaves in a bin next to the compost and put a big scoop in every time.

Oh we have county compost pickup once a week. I guess that is of note. But I have to take it out back to the bin 3x a day. A yard compost pile would be same issue. We tried a rotating composter but it got all vinegar and fly infested ; I don’t think our yard generates enough browns because we have few trees.

I was hoping someone had an idea for a combined pull out trash, recycling, compost setup.

[Anonymous]

You must be doing something wrong. In a family of four the counter-top compost bin should need to be emptied each night (once a day).

[Anonymous]

We have a really big bowl on our countertop, and it gets emptied into the locking, sealed compost bin in our garage every night as part of doing dishes.

On weekends if we're eating breakfast and lucnh at home, then it may need to be emptied twice a day. Gets more full in teh summer too with corn cobs and watermelon rinds.

[Anonymous]

So you have yard space? Consider an "in ground compost pipe(s)" then made of pipes buried vertically in the ground to 2-3 ft deep, with holes drilled in the side of the pipes to allow worms to come and eat.

Very easy way to compost and improve your flowerbeds/garden without the large outdoor bin or having to turn and tend to a pile.

Some ideas here. https://balconygardenweb.com/in-ground-compost-bin-ideas-diy-underground

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In urban areas there are several options.

You should watch some youtube videos.

Here are the basics:

That countertop trash can thing is for keeping the compost until you bring it to the pile.

If you don't have a yard you can use a vermicomposter such as this:

https://zerowastehomestead.com/vermicomposting-how-to-start-worm-composting/#:~:text=Vermicomposting%20or%20composting%20with%20worms,into%20garden%2Dready%20worm%20castings.

If you have a yard you can use a rotating composter such as this if you are in a city and worried about rodents:

https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Gro-Dual-Chamber-Compost-Tumbler/dp/B0785HCXB5/ref=asc_df_B0785HCXB5/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=692875362841&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1193685731972832760&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007760&hvtargid=pla-2281435182138&psc=1&mcid=a7b11fdc33fc3d958b3d96a76423716d&hvocijid=1193685731972832760-B0785HCXB5-&hvexpln=73

Also, if you have a pick up by the county or city of compost, you just need a larger bin and to follow their rules about what to put in it.

If you don't have pick up then you want to keep it to yard waste, veggie waste, fruit peelings, egg shells, coffee grounds, etc. Half greens, half browns. I keep the fall leaves in a bin next to the compost and put a big scoop in every time.

Oh we have county compost pickup once a week. I guess that is of note. But I have to take it out back to the bin 3x a day. A yard compost pile would be same issue. We tried a rotating composter but it got all vinegar and fly infested ; I don’t think our yard generates enough browns because we have few trees.

I was hoping someone had an idea for a combined pull out trash, recycling, compost setup.

Just use an additional bowl on the counter. As long as you are taking it out once or twice per day, you shouldn't have a problem with smell or fruit flies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You must be doing something wrong. In a family of four the counter-top compost bin should need to be emptied each night (once a day).

Breakfast: 6-7 eggshells
Packed Lunch: avocado peels and some fruit peels (like orange slices or tops of strawberries) for 2-3 people
Dinner: Onion skin, garlic skin, lunch leftovers like banana peel and uneaten sandwich crust, cauliflower leaves, carrot peels.

That’s just from Friday. Days we are home it’s even more like weekends.