Composting is one of those feel-good activities that leaves you with more than just a cleaner conscience—it’s simple, budget-friendly, and an awesome way to reduce waste right from your own backyard.
Sure, the Auckland Council Food Scraps initiative is a convenient way to manage organic waste, but why not take it one step further and create your very own DIY compost bin? With a few easy steps and a bit of creativity, you can start turning your food scraps into nutrient-rich compost for your garden.
Let’s take a look at how to make a compost bin, what to put in a compost bin, and why home composting definitely beats tossing your scraps into a curbside bin.
Why Compost at Home?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of building your own DIY compost bin, let’s take a moment to appreciate why composting at home is such a great idea.
Reduce Waste
The average New Zealand household produces a surprising amount of food waste—around three shopping trolleys’ worth per person every year—and around 45% of what ends up in the rubbish is actually compostable! By creating your own compost bin, you can drastically reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill.
Healthy Soil
Compost is nature’s best fertiliser. It’s packed with nutrients that your plants will love, helping them grow stronger and healthier without the need for nasty chemical fertilisers.
Save Money
Forget buying expensive compost from the garden centre! With a DIY compost bin, you’ll have a never-ending supply of free, high-quality compost—this is particularly appealing if you’ve got a bit of a green thumb.
Environmental Impact
When food waste decomposes in a landfill, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. By composting at home, you’re helping to reduce methane emissions and cut down on waste transportation costs.
Connect with Nature
Composting at home gives you a deeper understanding of the natural recycling process, connecting you to your garden and the planet in a meaningful way. Plus, there’s some pretty epic research out there about how gardening and composting can boost your mental health!
Why Not Just Use the Auckland Council Food Scrap Bins?
Auckland’s Food Scraps collection is definitely a step in the right direction, but if you’re keen on a more hands-on, eco-friendly approach, home composting offers a few awesome advantages.
Control
When you manage your own compost bin, you control what goes in and how it’s maintained. If you do your research, you can even fine-tune your compost mix for the best results for your garden and the planet.
Convenience
Your DIY compost bin is right in your backyard! No need to remember collection days or deal with slimy food scraps stinking up your kitchen bin for a week.
Garden Gold
Unlike the Auckland Food Scraps initiative, where compost is processed on a large scale and redistributed, your home compost is ready to be sprinkled directly onto your plants, feeding your garden with the best possible nutrients.
How to Make a Compost Bin
Ready to roll up your sleeves and get crafty? Building your own DIY compost bin is easier than you might think. You don’t need to be a handyman (or handywoman!) to make one, and you can even use materials you probably already have lying around.
What You’ll Need:
- Wooden pallets, plastic bins, or wire mesh: These will serve as the structure of your compost bin. Wooden pallets are a popular choice because they’re sturdy, eco-friendly, and you can often get ‘em for free.
- A drill or hammer and nails: For assembling your bin if you’re using wood.
- A shovel or pitchfork: For turning the compost.
- A shady spot: Your compost bin should be in a well-drained area out of direct sunlight.
Step-by-Step DIY Compost Bin Guide
Choose Your Bin Type: Decide whether you want an open compost pile, a wooden pallet bin, or a plastic bin with a lid. If you’re using pallets, place them in a square or rectangular shape and secure them with nails or wire. Make sure your bin is at least 1m x 1m x 1m so they get the proper amount of air and space.
Create Ventilation: Compost needs air to break down properly, so if you’re using a plastic bin, drill some holes on all sides (including the bottom) to boost airflow. If you’re building a wooden bin, make sure there are gaps between the slats for air to circulate.
Layer It Up: Start by laying down some coarse materials like small branches or straw at the bottom of your bin to help with drainage.
Add the Scraps: Alternate between green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) materials. Greens are your kitchen scraps like fruit and veggie peels, coffee grounds, and grass clippings, and browns are things like dried leaves, cardboard, and wood chips. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a 3:1 ratio of browns to greens.
Turn the Pile: Every few weeks, use your shovel or pitchfork to turn the compost, mixing the materials to speed up the decomposition process.
Keep It Moist: Your compost should be about as damp as a wrung-out sponge. If it gets too dry, give it a spray with the hose. But if it’s too wet, add more dry browns to soak up the excess moisture.
Wait and Use: In 3 to 6 months, your compost will be ready! You’ll know it’s done when it’s dark, crumbly, and smells like rich soil. Spread it around your garden or mix it into your soil for an added nutrient boost. You could even gift it to your grandma or a green thumb in your life—they’ll be very appreciative!
What to Put in a Compost Bin
Knowing what to put in a compost bin is key to making rich, high-quality compost. As we mentioned earlier, the trick is to balance your greens and browns.
Green Materials (Nitrogen-Rich)
- Fruit and veggie scraps
- Coffee grounds and tea leaves
- Grass clippings
- Plant trimmings
- Fresh leaves
Brown Materials (Carbon-Rich)
- Dry leaves
- Cardboard and paper (make sure they’re shredded)
- Wood chips
- Straw or hay
- Egg cartons
What to Avoid
- Meat, dairy, and oils (they attract pests and will end up smelling pretty bad…)
- Diseased plants
- Weeds with seeds
- Glossy or coated paper
- Pet waste
The Benefits of a DIY Compost Bin
Once you’ve got your DIY compost bin set up and running, the benefits will quickly become obvious. Not only will you have less waste to toss out, but you’ll also be creating a valuable resource for your garden—one that’s natural, sustainable, and cost-effective. Plus, there’s a sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing you’re doing your bit for the environment, all while getting your hands dirty in a fun, eco-friendly way.
With a little effort, you’ll have a constant supply of rich, nutritious compost to help your plants thrive—and all while reducing your household’s environmental impact. So, why wait for curbside collection? Start composting at home today!
Got questions about other types of waste and what can and can’t be thrown out? Get in touch with the Pink Bins team and we’ll be happy to help!