www.leangreenhome.co.uk/compost www. leangreenhome .co. uk /compost Recycle ALL Your Organic Kitchen Waste Build a high quality compost bin and save money with our easy-step guide… Make your own Compost Bin wooden

Decide where in your garden you want your compost heap. Make sure it’s somewhere handy, not too far from the kitchen so you don’t mind popping out in the colder months with organic household waste. Make your own wooden compost bin. Build it to the size that suits your garden from materials that suit your budget… Matt from leangreenhome.co.uk 6 Easy Steps!

4 untreated wooden stakes (110cm x 7cm x 4.5cm) 22 untreated wooden planks (100cm x 15cm x 2cm) 8 shorter planks for the front panel (86cm x 15cm x 2cm) 2 x 1m lengths of 4cm x 2cm wood Deck screws (50mm) Non-toxic, water-based wood preservative You’ll need: For a 1m x 1m x 1m compost bin: Tip: For a free alternative, recycle wood from old pallets

Build your compost bin’s side panels: You’re aiming to make a 3-sided box that’s open at the front. First, build the sides by screwing the 100cm planks to the stakes. For a 1m tall compost bin place 6 planks, 2.5cm apart. Tip: An electric screwdriver will make it a lot easier… Step 1. x2 Make 2 of these…

Step 2. Attach the back panel: Complete your 3-sided bin by screwing 6 x 1m planks to the side panels. Be careful to line up the panels. You may find it useful to use a table as a support. Tip: Attach one side then the other using a table or work bench as a support

Step 3. Make a frame for the front of your compost bin: The most useful compost bins have a removable front panel. To house the front panel, make a frame using 3 planks. Screw 2 planks vertically along the forward struts and 1 x 1m plank horizontally along the bottom of the bin.

Step 4. Create guides for the front panel: Attach the 4 x 2 lengths of wood to the rear edge of the front stakes to create a guiding groove for the bin’s removable front panel. You’re compost bin should now look something like this…

Step 5. Make your compost bin’s front panel: You’ll be able to slide this front panel in and out to easily remove compost or turn your heap when you need to. Space 6 x 86cm planks flat on the ground and space them about 2cm apart. Now lay the last 2 planks perpendicularly across them so that they are flush with the panel’s top plank but leave a 5-7cm gap at the bottom. Nearly done!

Step 6. That’s it: Slide the front panel into position, apply a non-toxic, water-based wood preservative and allow to dry, and move your new compost bin to a handy spot in your garden. Well done - time to put your feet up! Tip: To make sure your composter is firmly planted, dig out a 1 x 1m area of earth about 10 cm deep

For more information on composting visit: www. LeanGreenHome .co. uk Useful links: LeanGreenHome .co. uk /compost LeanGreenHome .co. uk /compost-checklist Follow LeanGreenHome on Twitter: twitter.com/ leangreenhome Matt from leangreenhome.co.uk