18 Ingenious DIY Compost Bin Ideas

Composting is a simple way to add nutrient-rich humus which fuels plant growth and restores vitality to depleted soil. It’s also free, easy to make and good for the environment. There are lots of good reasons to compost. Save money, save resources, improve your soil and reduce your impact on the environment.

Regardless of your reasons, composting is a win/win scenario. Good for you and good for the environment. You may be skeptical about composting. The skepticism sounds healthy to me. Why would anyone want a big pile of rotting food in their yard or home?

It doesn’t sound hygienic, and it doesn’t sound fun. But composting is good for everyone . What are your preferred ingredients for composting? I try to use any produce from my own ground that we don’t eat as well as canning by-product.

Many DIY compost bins can be created from typical household items, making them extremely affordable. Construction methods range from simple to complex and a variety of materials can be used such as wood, brick, straw, plastic, and wire. Check out the list below as see if any of them will fit with your composting needs.

Composter (Drum Style)

This composter rotates so that compost matter can breathe (which should also minimize odor) and break down a little faster. Source: instructables.com

DIY Pallet Compost Bin

This new compost is considerably sturdy, triple the size of the barrel, and it only cost us about $6.00 out of pocket to make. Source: fabulesslyfrugal.com

DIY Compost Bin From Hardware Cloth

This really cool waste/compost bin was created by Tom Powers and is both an art piece as well as a useful garden accessory. Source: goodshomedesign.com

Double-Decker Drum Composter

The device you can build with your own hands will allow you to turn the compost a whole lot easier, which in turn will aid with the breakdown process a lot faster. Source: tutorialtub.com

Build The Ultimate Compost Bin

It’s hard to convey through these photos just how sturdy and stable the whole thing is–ready for many tons of compost to be produced in the years to come. Source: backyardfeast.wordpress.com

Simple DIY Plastic Compost Bin

Not every one has a big garden to build a large compost bin so here is a great way to get you started.  Source: tellerallaboutit.wordpress.com

Decorative Brick Compost Bin

A compost bin made of decorative brick creates a more permanent structure that can enhance the look of your property. Source: allanblock.co.uk

Build a Single Tumbling Composter

Using a tumbling composter can make things easier. Since most tumbling composters can be fairly expensive, costing well over $100, consider building your own. For much less money and a few hours of your time, you can build your own tumbling composter by following the steps below. Source: wikihow.com

Build the perfect compost bin

When horticulturists at the University of California Cooperative Extension set out to design the perfect compost bin, they wanted one that was simple to build, easy to use, and efficient at making compost. The bin shown here meets those criteria. Source: sunset.com

Wire Framed Compost Bin

With a little assistance, fallen leaves can be transformed into wonderful free compost for the garden. All you need is a simple compost bin. Source: diynetwork.com

Trash Can Compost Bin

This isn’t a new idea, but it’s a good one so I thought I’d share it with you.  It’s a small compost bin made from a rubber trash can.  It’s just the right size for small spaces; it has a lid to keep out the critters and it’s easy to maneuver around the garden. Source: pallensmith.com

Used Tire Compost Bin

There’s so many used tires littering the sidewalks and rubbish tips these days. Thankfully tires make a fine raw material for building projects and Homegrown Evolution has been experimenting with their many uses over the past year. This week they built a compost bin. Source: rootsimple.com

Milkcrate Composter (vertically stacked)

a milkcrate!  It stacks perfectly, has plenty of air circulation, is sturdy, has handles to lift them easily, light weight, low cost.  All you needed is 3 milkcrates, mesh/screen, newspaper, a lid, and a base if it’s not resting on the earth directly.  Source: instructables.com

Wine Barrel Compost Station

I have seen several compost barrels made from plastic and metal drums or barrels. With the access I have to wine barrels, I thought why not try to make a compost wine barrel. I then settled on three barrels so that I can have enough capacity for our garden and to handle all our yard waste. Source: gardentenders.com

DIY Kitchen Counter Compost Bin

Composting can be easy if you have a compost bin right on the counter. Of course you need to keep a larger bin elsewhere. But daily collecting of food scraps and other compostable waste is pretty simple when you have a handy bin that is odor free and easily accessible. Source: planetpals.com

Building a Simple Compost Bin with hardware cloth

First, he cut six 8-foot pickets in half. Next, he cut an 8-foot 2 x 2 into four 2-foot sections to serve as vertical corner posts, then screwed the picket pieces to them to form a sort of open box. Two more 8-foot 2 x 2s were cut in half and assembled to form the lid — read more. Source: bonnieplants.com

Compost Bin Plans: Cinder/Concrete Blocks

This cinder block compost bin will last many years. The blocks are not staggered, they are held together with mortar. So apply mortar between the blocks. Source: mybackyardplans.com

Simple Natural Compost Pile

Our new compost pile. The sides are branches, simply stacked on top of each other. (That’s a Helen and Scott Nearing plan). Source: flickr.com