A manufactured compost bin is a good starting point, with features that allow for greater control over the process of composting and decomposition, which is especially important if you are trying backyard composting for the first time or for those composting in an urban setting. They are contained systems that take up less space and are designed to be pest resistant. There are many different types of manufactured compost bins available at retail. Things to look for in a good, manufactured compost bin include:

• Made from a durable material to withstand weathering.
• Sufficient ventilation holes to allow air to flow through the bin.
• A tight-fitting lid to prevent drying out and pests gaining access.
• A conical shape to prevent compost getting stuck in corners.
• A harvest door for compost removal.

Drawbacks of a manufactured compost bin include:

• The initial cost of buying the bin.
  • Expect to pay anywhere between $50-$300 for a compost bin.
• The amount of compost you can produce is limited to the size of the bin.

A Do-It-Yourself (DIY), homemade compost bin is usually a less expensive alternative to a manufactured bin and can often yield more results because you can determine the size you need yourself. You will need an area between 3 cubic feet (to reach volume and desired temperatures in the middle) and 5 cubic feet (to keep the amount of mixing manageable).

Common materials used to construct DIY compost bins include trashcans, drums, concrete blocks, wooden pallets, hardware cloth, etc. There are hundreds of DIY compost bin design ideas on Pinterest. Search for one that will work best for you.

Drawbacks to DIY compost bins include:

• Some designs fail to consider the right amount of ventilation needed to achieve the optimum rate of decomposition.
• Composting is an aerobic process.
  • Oxygen is one of the four main ingredients required in composting.
  • Not enough ventilation can turn your pile anaerobic, but too much ventilation can prevent your pile from reaching temperature in the center.

An open pile is the least expensive option and typically yields the most compost due to their lack of constraints (walls). You will need more space for an open pile, preferably an area between 4-5 cubic feet. Compost piles larger than 5 cubic feet tend to become unmanageable and difficult to turn. Open compost piles are better suited in areas from neighboring properties.

Drawbacks to open piles include:

• They can attract local wildlife.
• They tend to lose moisture quickly in summer.
  • Their lack of walls provides a large surface area for moisture to evaporate.

You will often see open compost piles with a tarp over the top in summer to keep the moisture in and the deer out!

Active compost systems produce moisture, and the moisture will drain, so it needs to be installed over a permeable surface, such as soil, grass or mulch. Compost systems that drain into the ground also provide access for decomposers to enter and leave the system freely (as conditions fluctuate with seasonal variances). Decomposers (including bacteria, fungi, protozoa and insects) are one of four key ingredients required in composting.

Make throwing food scraps into your compost system convenient. Common mistakes include placing compost systems ‘out of sight’, at the end of the yard because they are not aesthetic, but this can quickly become ‘out of mind’ and people stop using them because they either forget about them or they are not as conveniently located compared to the trashcan.  

• Tip: Place your compost bin near your trashcan to make walking to it just as convenient.

Structures susceptible to rot should not be in contact with decomposing materials, so do not put your system up against a wooden fence or storage building.

Your system should be within reach of a water source, a garden hose or watering can to maintain the right moisture level. If a compost system dries out, it will cease to break down and remain dormant. Water is one of the four key ingredients in composting. A properly maintained compost system should be moist at all times, like a wrung-out sponge, but never soggy. Too much water and the decomposers will die.

• Tip: Fill your kitchen pail up with water before emptying it into the composter outside and you can feed and water and your compost system in one visit!

This helps to prevent excessive heat build-up, especially in plastic bins in warmer climates. If shade is not an option for you, pay closer attention to the moisture levels in your compost system, especially in summer.