DIY Life

One third of all household waste is organic. That means that a significant portion of the garbage in most homes could have been composted. If you have the space and a garden that would benefit from rich top soil, consider building a compost bin in your yard.

This compost bin is a simple DIY project constructed from old shipping pallets. You can find recycled wooden pallets at a furniture, office, or hardware store. Most places that ship large items use these pallets and they are happy to give them away.

Materials

1. Wooden shipping pallets - 4
2. Screwdriver
3. Wood screws
4. Door hinges
5. Chicken wire
6. Staple gun
7. Black plastic
8. Wood stain (optional)

Have a look at the full article for simple 4 step instructions to assembling this recycled compost box. People are often concerned that an outdoor compost will smell and encourage rodents. The compost boxes are surprisingly odorless. Green items are high in nitrogen and brown items are rich in carbon. A 50/50 balance of the two will eliminate odor.

What can I compost?

• Fruit and vegetables
• Fruit and vegetable peel
• Cooking scraps
• Lawn cuttings
• Dead flowers
• Pruning (non-wood material)

What if my compost starts to attract flies?

You'll want to bury kitchen scraps in the dirt. Put them 15-30cm. bellow the surface.

Where should I put my compost?

Your compost should be placed on bare ground with an open or semi-open bottom for water to get out and worms to get in. You'll also want to choose a place that is easy to access. You'll be more likely to use it if you can add your materials and mix it easily.

Should I add worms to my compost?

Worms play an important job in mixing the soil and processing the compost. Worms will come in naturally. If you want to make a worm composting bin, there are some other factors to consider. Here are great instructions about constructing a worm compost.

[via Waverly Brough Council]