How To Turn Your Old Trash Can Into A DIY Compost Bin

If you've been thinking about composting but are worried it might be too complicated or expensive, you're in the right place. Making your own DIY compost doesn't have to be a big, costly project. In fact, you can get started with things you already have on hand, like an old trash can. All you need is a garbage can with a lid and a drill or something sharp enough to cut holes in the can. Once you've made the compost bin, just fill it with wood chips and chopped leaves from around the yard, and you're ready to start composting.

Before you begin, it's helpful to understand how exactly compost works. There are two types of waste that composting requires. Green waste is things containing nitrogen, like leaves and food scraps from the kitchen. Brown waste contains carbon — things like paper or wood chips. When combined, it creates an intricate community of microbes that breaks down into a nutrient-rich soil enhancement, giving the soil a boost and fertilizing the garden plants. 

Not only is composting beneficial for your backyard garden, but it also helps the environment. A lot of our food waste ends up in landfills, creating a potent greenhouse gas called methane. But one of the biggest benefits of composting at home is that it diverts that waste, keeping it out of the landfills and allowing it to decompose in a more natural and useful way.

When you're ready to make your DIY compost bin, begin by turning the trash can upside down and drilling or cutting three to five holes in the bottom. This will allow moisture and air to flow, as well as letting worms in to help mix and aerate the compost. Then, drill about three or four rows of holes around the sides of the trash can, spacing them 4 to 6 inches apart to allow for additional airflow throughout. Flip the can right side up, and decide where you're going to keep the new compost bin. You can set it directly on the ground or dig out a few inches to let it sink into the ground and pack the dirt around it to hold it in place.

Next, fill the bin with compost ingredients you likely already have at home. Start with wood chips and chopped-up leaves or grass clippings gathered from the yard. This is going to absorb excess moisture that might build up in the compost and is a good mix of green and brown waste. Then, add food waste from the kitchen, like banana peels or coffee grounds. Mix everything in the bin with a shovel, and wet it down to add moisture before closing the lid. 

Continue to add yard and kitchen waste, and regularly mix or turn the compost. You'll know your compost is ready to be used in the garden when it has shrunk in size, the waste you put in has decomposed enough to be unrecognizable, and it has a dark, crumbly texture (much like soil itself) with an earthy scent.