As a part of my recycling and environmental efforts, I decided to build a compost bin to add this useful process to my backyard. Composting is easy and will reduce your trash output by adding organic material back into the soil. This can help with gardening, growing food, and reducing landfill waste. There are many ways to build a compost bin from scratch, but I chose to make mine from repurposed wooden pallets. Read on for a guide on how you can do the same!
Step 1: Find pallets
The first step to building a compost bin out of pallets is finding the pallets. There are several ways to go about this, but here are some simple tips for how and where to find them:
- Look at your local hardware store. Many hardware stores will have stacks of used pallets that they don’t use anymore and would be willing to give away or sell cheaply. If you don’t see any there, try asking an employee if they can order some in for you!
- Ask around at home improvement stores and lumber yards if they have any extra pallets lying around that might be going unused (and if not, ask them if they know anyone else who might have some).
- Search Craigslist or Freecycle for people giving away their old wooden pallets!
Step 2: Make sure there’s no metal in your pallets
Check for metal: If you have a magnet, rub it along the boards of your pallet. If it sticks to any part of the board, you’ll know there’s metal in your pallet.
Remove metal: Use a hammer and chisel to remove any bits of sharp or jagged pieces that may be left behind after breaking apart the boards. You can also use a grinder if you have one available—but be careful not to damage yourself or other things in the process! The end goal is just to get rid of any small pieces so they don’t cause problems later on when building your composter or as it decomposes into compost over time.
Dispose properly: To dispose of remaining nails or screws safely (so they don’t end up injuring someone else), take them out into an open area where there isn’t much foot traffic (e.g., behind your garage) and pound them all into one spot using another heavy object like a hammer or large rock so they’re not loose anymore and can be easily picked up by garbage collectors later on when trash day comes around again next week/month/year depending upon how often waste collection happens where you live in relation to how quickly plants grow through their life cycle stages from seedlings through maturity before rotting away again at death…
Step 3: Give them a good cleaning
Next, you will want to clean the pallets with a pressure washer and/or disinfectant. You can also use a degreaser to remove any leftover oil that may be on the wood.
Remove all labels from both sides of each board.
Remove all screws, nails, staples and wood splinters by hand or using pliers. Also remove any wood chips if they are present.
Step 4: Cut for ventilation
- Cut a hole in the middle of your pallet. You can use a circular saw to cut this hole, or if you have access to a table saw, that’s even better!
- Cut a hole in the bottom of your pallet (this step is optional). This will be where you put your kitchen scraps and other organic materials that need air to decompose properly. It should be about 6-8 inches in diameter for best results. If you want there to be more ventilation than that, feel free; just make sure there’s enough room for it when you build your compost bin around this structure later on.
- Finally, cut another small hole at the top of your pallet as well (optional). This will allow any excess moisture from rain or watering days to escape from inside without ruining everything else inside with too much water buildup!
Step 5: Assemble the pallets
Once you’ve arranged the pallets in a square or other shape, it’s time to assemble them.
In order to ensure that your compost bin is built properly, it’s important to make sure that all of the pallets are level and in an even position with one another. You can use your level as a guide for this step of the project: place it across two opposite sides of your structure and adjust each individual pallet until its bubble is centered.
If you’re having trouble getting all of the pieces lined up perfectly, try positioning some of your shorter boards at different heights from their neighbors until they’re all within an acceptable range (0-1/8”). This will solve most issues related to aligning boards across multiple rows.
Step 6: Put it all together to build compost bin
Now that you’ve got your pallet frame assembled, it’s time to get to work on the bin itself.
First off, don’t forget to put a door in; otherwise it won’t be of much use!
Next up is the composting process itself. What makes this composting bin different from other types? It has a bit more elbow grease involved than other methods because you’ll have to turn over the pile of waste every so often.
You’re going to want about 6-8″ (15-20 centimeters) of material inside at all times for optimal results—any less and it won’t heat up enough; any more than that could lead to anaerobic conditions which are not good for what we’re trying achieve here today: decomposition!
Composting is good for the environment and you can build your own compost bin out of recycled materials.
Composting is one of the best things you can do for the environment. It helps to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, which frees up space for more garbage. Composting also reduces methane emissions by keeping organic materials out of landfills.
If you are looking for a way to build your own compost bin out of recycled materials, pallets from hardware stores are a great option. You can find them at any local hardware store and they’re really easy to work with!
When using pallets for this project, it’s important that you clean them first so that there is no dirt on them or chemicals from previous uses left over (if there were any). To clean your pallets:
- Use a pressure washer or power washer on low setting and direct water towards wooden slats rather than plastic boards since they are easier to chip off if hit directly by high pressure streams instead
If you’re looking for an easy way to start composting, this is a great option. If you want to give it a try, follow these steps or visit our website for more detailed instructions. The only thing left now is filling your bin and letting nature do the rest!