Make This Super-Easy DIY Compost Bin in a Flash

Save money, benefit your garden, and help out the environment—all at the same time—with this simple DIY compost bin project.

By

Viveka Neveln

Updated on March 3, 2023

Reviewed by

David McKinney

Making a DIY compost bin is something anyone can do, whether you're a gardening beginner or a seasoned pro. It's a great way to recycle yard waste, like grass clippings and dry leaves, as well as vegetable peelings and other kitchen scraps. The nutrient-rich blend of decomposed organic materials works wonders for plants when spread around them or mixed into the soil.

To get started, you'll need a compost bin. One of the easiest DIY compost bins begins with a trash can—something you may already have on hand. Drill several holes in it so your compost can get plenty of air and break down quickly. Then, you can tuck your new bin into a convenient spot and start adding organic material to it.

Pulled out shot of DIY compost bin — BHG / Adrienne Legault

What You Need

Making this DIY compost bin is simple. You only need three materials:

Lidded, outdoor trash can (between 30 and 40 gallons)
Power drill
Paddle drill bit

How to Make a DIY Compost Bin

Step 1: Prep the Bin

If you're repurposing an old trash can, thoroughly rinse it. You don't want any lingering remnants of non-biodegradable materials in your DIY compost bin. If you use a brand-new bin, you can skip the wash but remove any tags or packaging. Either way, choosing a bin with wheels makes it easier to move your compost around the garden. Also, make sure your bin is UV tolerant so it will hold up to sunlight exposure.

Step 2: Drill Holes

Attach the paddle bit to the drill. Starting a few inches from the lid, drill a hole into the side of the can. Space another hole approximately three inches from the first one. Continue drilling until you have rows of holes that span your bin's width and length. Repeat this on all sides.

drilling a hole into the side of the bin, starting a few inches from the lid — BHG / Adrienne Legault

Step 3: Clean Out Bin

Once again, thoroughly wash out the trash can to clean out any plastic shavings and bits created during the drilling process. Then, you can put your new DIY compost bin to work.

thoroughly rinsing off bin — BHG / Adrienne Legault

Composting Tips and Tricks

Especially when you're just starting, it's important to feed your compost pile with the right materials and encourage them to break down. Use these tips to help get your compost going and create the best nutrients for your garden:

There are two types of composting: Hot and cold. Hot composting "fast-cooks" the materials with nitrogen, carbon, air, and water to create compost in only a few months. Cold composting simply requires collecting materials in a bin and letting them naturally decompose over the course of a year.
Suitable materials are the key to good compost. Fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, coffee grounds, grass clippings, dry leaves, finely chopped wood, shredded paper, straw, and sawdust from untreated wood all make great compost.
Bad materials can harm your pile and, eventually, your garden. Don't try to compost any diseased plant parts, treated wood, animal feces, weeds that go to seed, or anything containing meat, oil, fat, dairy, or grease.

Before long, you can start putting your compost to work in your garden. Compost can help enrich soil if you're creating a new garden bed, but you can also spread it in a thick layer in an existing garden to add nutrients to tired soil. Your garden will reward you with bounty if you feed it with homemade compost.