People from all walks of life are discovering the joys of gardening. Whether you choose to grow award winning roses, or food for your family, you’ll get the best return for your efforts if you create your own fertilizer. To do so is an extremely easy process. It’s simply a matter of collecting the vegetable scraps from your kitchen, as well as leaves, grasses and overall garden waste from your yard. The compost bin does the rest. However, the quality of your compost is contingent on many factors, and one of them is your choice of a compost bin.
When you compost your garden waste and kitchen scraps, this waste naturally biodegrades into nutrient dense soil which produces healthy, vibrant vegetation. Composting has many benefits, which include the reduction of greenhouse gases, saving money on bags of fertilizer, cleans your soil by absorbing many hazardous compounds such as VOC’s and pesticides. if you are just starting out, simply remember the rule of browns, greens and water. Browns are usually yard waste such as branches from trimming trees and hedges, and the dead leaves of autumn. Greens refer to vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds and any fresh green yard clippings like grass and leaves. Finally, the rest is having the proper amount of moisture.
In order to make the best compost, knowledge isn’t the only thing you need. You also need a compost bin. There are many different types of compost bins on the market. Today, in our review of the best compost bins of 2021, we will concentrate on stationary outdoor compost bins. These bins are durable, made from recycled material and are designed to require very little maintenance, just place them in your yard, and off you go!
Table of the Best Outdoor Compost Bins:
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1. Deluxe Pyramid Composter, Recycled Plastic Composter
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The Deluxe Pyramid Composter is a top of the line product designed to make the gardeners life easier and more productive as it turns your garden waste, clippings and kitchen left overs into nutrient dense compost. This composter is eco-friendly, being entirely made from recycled polyethylene. As for size and capacity, this large compost bin is 4mm thick, 28 inches square and 34 inches tall, and holds 12 cubic feet of compost. The hinged lid makes it easy to open and stash your leavings, the slim side venting grants good ventilation with 2 sliding doors one in front and the other in the back to remove the compost. The ‘Pyramid’ lid catches the falling rain, letting just the right amount in for the benefit of the compost.
2. Rein Garden Worm Cafe Bins
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The Rein Garden Worm Cafe is designed to turn your organic waste, such as leaves, vegetables, grass clippings, into nutrient dense compost. More and more people are turning to farming their own worms to benefit their garden, and it’s called worm composting and the Rein Garden Worm Cafe is one of the best products on the market. The bin is 100 percent recycled plastic, hinged fly proof lid, three working, ventilated trays, non drip design, and if you lose the instructions, no worries as they stamped the instructions on the inside of the lid! Additional features include legs designed specifically with ant caps to prevent ant encroachment, coir brick, ventilation and lid is designed to allow just enough moisture so your worms will not drown. Dimensions for this bin are15.3 x 22.6 x 18.2 inches.
3. VermiHut 5-Tray Worm Compost Bin
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The durable and tough VermiHut 5-Tray Worm Compost Bin uses worms to nibble and digest your left over vegetation to create a fabulous compost for your garden. A favorite among gardeners due to its ease of use when removing the compost. The VermiHut does not leak, virtually maintenance free, worms thrive, 5 stackable trays separate casting and worms, has excellent air circulation. If you are concerned about odor, no need as the VermiHut is virtually odorless, which means you can use this indoors as well. You have the option to add a total of 7 trays. Dimensions for this compost bin are16.5 x 16.5 x 12.5 inches.
4. Redmon Green Culture 65-Gallon Compost Bin
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If you are looking for a basic, easy to assemble, affordable, and durable compost bin with loads of space, then the Redmon Green Culture compost bin is for you. Constructed with a sturdy, weather resistant resin 80 percent of which are recycled materials, BPA and Phthalate free, it holds up to 65 gallons, or 8.6 cubic feet of compost, overall dimensions: 26 x 26 x 31 inches, and weighs in at 15 pounds. Features include: 4 doors, so you can have access to your compost from all sides, an easy to lift lid, and ventilation holes for proper air circulation. This model has an option to add an aerator to further improve air circulation.
5. Worm Factory DS4BT 4-Tray Worm Composter
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If you love to garden, but only have a very small area, then this is the compost bin to get, as it is small and efficient. The Worm Factory DS4BT 4-Tray Worm Composter is made with recycled plastic, and can be used year round. the DS4BT uses a multi-tray, square-shaped design, measures 16 x 16 x 13 inches, each tray weighs in at 12 pounds when full. This bin comes with a handy, ‘worm tea’ collector tray so you can collect the valuable liquid fertilizer with ease. To collect the worm tea, simply use its easy to access spigot and begin to drain. This bin is odor free and can be expanded to a full 7 trays if needed.
6. Algreen Products Soil Saver Classic Compost Bin
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The Soil Saver Classic compost bin by Algreen Products is one of the toughest compost bins on the market. Built from 100 percent BPA free, recycled materials, it’s composed with durable military grade construction. The 2 sliding hatch doors give you easy access, and multiple ventilation openings to ensure a health air flow through the bin, 2 easy lock handles, and a locking self watering lid. In about 6 to 8 weeks, the microbes will have done their work, and your kitchen and garden leavings will be turned into nutrient rich compost. As for capacity, you get a nice 12 cubic feet, dimensions are 28 x 28 x 32, .200 inch thick, the square design makes it easy to place in your gardens corner.
7. Exaco 628001 Eco-Master Polypropylene Composter
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The Exaco Eco-Master Composter is constructed from 100 percent, recycled polypropylene. This UV resistant compost bin is designed to give you many years of use creating rich compost for your garden. You most certainly will collect a good deal of nutrient rich compost in this 120 gallon capacity compost bin. Designed in an easy to place 27.6 x 27.6 x 40.2 inches, this square shaped compost bin is easy to assemble, comes with a lid with wind protection, one piece feed opening, and is well ventilated. This compost bin comes with no base, so all you need do is simply lift the bin to get at your compost.
8. Enviro World 82 Gallon Compost Bin
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The Enviro World compost bin is just made for gardeners who require a good deal of healthy, fresh compost to fertilize their gardens with. This compost bin is constructed from 100 percent recycled material, has a large 19.5 inch opening, handles extreme weather, comes completely assembled and can hold 11 cubit feet, or 82 gallons of compost. The pest resistant lid comes with a twist lock design, metal grounding pegs hold it in place, and the upper body of the Enviro World, adjusts so you can control the airflow. If you are new to composting, this purchase includes a composting guide to help you get started. Dimensions for this bin are 31 x 27.5 x 36 inches.
9. Outsunny 105 Gallon / 400L Compost Bin
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The Outsunny Organic Waste Garden Compost Bin is designed for gardeners and homeowners who are serious about the quality and amount of their compost. This compost bin is a really nice size at 105 gallons (400 Liters), and will reduce your carbon footprint considerably, as you watch your garden flourish. Garden waste in entered through the top which has a good opening size of 23.0″L x 23.0″W, and entry to the compost is via bottom doors. Made from entirely recycled materials, has holes for to allow proper air flow, and a convenient square design which makes it fit comfortably in the corner of your garden. This easy to assemble compost bin measures 33.5″L x 33.5″W x 32.3″H,has a hinged lid which locks to keep out local curious wildlife.
10. Worm Factory 360 Composting Bin + Moisture and pH
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This is a really nice compost bin/worm farm. This is for those of you who use worms for your compost, and as it comes with 4 trays which can be expanded to 8, makes it one of the largest capacity worm farm/composters on the market. The lid can also be used as a tray, to help you obtain and distribute the compost. If you are entirely new to this style of composting, they include an instructional manual to get you started. The best compost depends on the proper amount of moisture and pH, which is why this select model comes with a pH meter, moisture meter and a thermometer. A handy spigot and collector tray give you the nourishing, liquid fertilizer known as ‘worm tea’.
How to Choose the Best Outdoor Compost Bin
Vermicomposting Bins
In our review, you’ll notice we have a few ‘worm farms’, this is known as vermicomposting. In vermicomposting, you use earthworms to initiate the composting process. Earthworms are natures little composters, as they eat the kitchen and yard scraps on one end, and nutrient rich casings come out the other. You’ll notice that these vermicomponsting bins also have spigots. This is to catch the runoff, the liquid fertilizer known as ‘worm tea’.
Outdoor Compost Bins
In standard, outdoor composting bins, its mother nature which breaks down the garden and kitchen waste instead of worms. Here, microbes work to break down or biodegrade, the vegetation into compost. Some outdoor compost bins will have a tray design, and others will be a solid unit, where you put the waste in the top, and remove the compost at the bottom.
Key Features
Size
When thinking of purchasing your compost bin, consideration of size is a prime consideration. If you have a large lot, you need to purchase a compost bin that is large enough to make the amount of compost you need. Similarly, if you have a small city yard, you just need a small bin to fit in the corner of your lot.
Overall Construction
Try to find a bin that is eco-friendly being made from recycled materials. The bin should be dark in color to keep the heat in, and durable enough to withstand the seasons, be it rain, winter or hot sun. If you live in an area which receives a lot of sun, then look for one that has UV resistant surface. Don’t forget aeration, as proper air flow will assist in making the perfect compost, so your bin must have ventilation holes. Finally, how easy is it to gain access to your bin, as well as remove the compost from it? Some are constructed with trays, and others have doors, so choose the design which best works for you.
Properly Fitting Lid
The lid prevents rain from entering your compost bin, which dilutes your compost. If you live in an area with curious critters, then its a good idea to get a lid that locks down tight. Some lids have multiple functions, such as serving as a tray to help remove compost, or designed to allow just the right amount of rain in. Make certain you purchase a compost bin with a large top opening. This way you can dispose of your grass clippings and kitchen waste quickly and easily, with little fuss.
Conclusion
Creating enriched, clean and healthy fertilizer has never been easier. Those who compost regularly have lush, green vegetation and healthy and vibrant flowers. The benefits to the environment are huge, as compost creates clean soil, as well as cleanses damaged soil. Plus, there is something just so satisfying to creating your own fertilizer, and watch as it increases the splendor of your garden or yard. In our review of the best outdoor compost bins, we’ve covered two basic types: Vermicomposting and standard outdoor compost bins. Whichever route you take, by composting you are helping yourself, saving money, and assisting in creating a cleaner planet for everyone.