Closed Air "Garbage Can" Composter
| •For fruit and vegetable trimmings only •Requires 3'x3' yard space for each bin; 2 bins best •Low maintenance-for "Closed Air" composting •Prone to odor and insect problems •Produces small amounts of compost infrequently •Minimal construction skills needed •$12 - $35 for new materials |
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| Materials •(1) plastic garbage can, 32 gallon or larger •(1) piece 1/4" wire mesh hardware cloth to cover bottom of can (about 2'x2') •(16-20) 1/2" galvanized, Phillips-head wood screws |
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| Tools Power drill-driver (or a Phillips screwdriver, hammer and a medium-sized nail), tin snips, utility knife. Assembly and Installation 1. With a utility knife, cut a hole out of the bottom of the can, leaving just a 1" edge for attaching the screen. 2. With tin snips, cut hardware cloth the same size and shape as the bottom of the can. |
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3. Attach hardware cloth to the outside of the bottom of the can with the 16-20 screws spaced about 4" apart. If you are using a hand screwdriver, poke holes for the screws with the hammer and nail. With a power drill-driver, no pre-drilling is necessary. When finished, be sure the screen fits tightly against the can so there are no openings larger than 1/4".
4. Install bin (or bins) by digging a hole and burying the bottom 12"-18". Be sure to pack the soil firmly around the edges.
