Wood and wire compost bin

This portable bin provides a convenient way to compost yard materials. It fits well in small spaces and may be used either as a holding bin or as a portable turning unit. To turn the pile, harvest finished compost or build a new pile, simply undo the latches, pull the sides apart and move it. When turning the pile, transfer the existing composting materials into the empty bin at its new location.

 

Cost: Less than $100 to build using new materials, less if recycled materials are used.

 

Capacity: Holds 1 cubic yard or 8 to 10 30-gallon bags of yard materials

 

Materials:

• 4 x 12-foot cedar or non-arsenic pressure treated 2x4s
• 12 ft x ½" hardware cloth, 36" wide
• 100 x 1½" galvanized No. 8 wood screws
• 4 x 3" galvanized butt door hinges
• 150 x poultry wire staples or power stapler
• 1 x 10 oz. tube exterior wood adhesive
• 4 x large hook and eye gate latches

 

Tools:

• Hand saw and chisel, radial arm saw with dado blade, circular saw or table saw
• Hammer
• Screwdriver
• Tin snips
• Caulking gun
• Pencil
• Small carpenter's square
• Eye and ear protection

 

Construction Details:

• Cut each 12 foot 2x4 into four 3 foot long pieces.
  Cut a ¾" deep and 3 ½" wide section out of each end for a total of 32 lap cuts.
• If using handsaw and chisel, cut ¾" down at the 3½ inch line at A in diagram to right. Then cut a deep groove into the end of the board at B in the diagram. Place a thick wood chisel in the end of grove and split the wood with a hammer to the 3½" cut.
  
  
   
• If using a radial alarm saw, circular saw or table saw, set blade depth to ¾" and make multiple passes until the whole 3 ½" section is removed. Make four 3-foot square frames from the lap jointed 2x4s. Put enough construction adhesive to fill the gaps when the lap joints are screwed together. Fasten each joint with five screws.
• Cut the hardware cloth with tin snips into four 3-foot square sections. Bend the edges of the cloth back over 1" for strength. Lay one onto each of the four frames. Center and tack each corner with a poultry wire staple. Hammer a staple every 4" along all four edges of the hardware cloth. Try to tension the cloth so it will not sag when filled with compost.
• Connect each pair of frames together with two hinges, so the wire is on the inside of the bin, as shown below.
  
  
• Then put the hook and eye gate latches on the other ends so that the sections latch together.

 

Source: University of Wisconsin–Extension - Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center