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Home > Archive > UK gardening > April 2007 > Compost Bins - are they smelly?
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Compost Bins - are they smelly?
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| I am considering a compost bin in my small north facing garden.
Because it is north facing I am trying to use the space and moving shadows
to create somewhere nice to sit in the morning and then somewhere to sit mid
afternoon when the sun is shining.
The obvious places for a compost bin is near to the bench used in the
morning, or in a corner next to where the sun loungers go in the afternoon.
The planting nearby would provide some shade and therefore the bins would
not bake in the sun.
However, are compost bins smelly? I know it involves rotting down garden
and food waste so it must be. So, are compost bins *really* smelly???
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| Rupert \(W.Yorkshire\) 2007-04-15, 9:25 am |
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"Space" <space@bt.internet.com> wrote in message
news:RbqdnYJVuOiXmb_bnZ2dnUVZ8v6dnZ2d@bt.com...
>I am considering a compost bin in my small north facing garden.
>
> Because it is north facing I am trying to use the space and moving shadows
> to create somewhere nice to sit in the morning and then somewhere to sit
> mid afternoon when the sun is shining.
>
> The obvious places for a compost bin is near to the bench used in the
> morning, or in a corner next to where the sun loungers go in the
> afternoon.
>
> The planting nearby would provide some shade and therefore the bins would
> not bake in the sun.
>
> However, are compost bins smelly? I know it involves rotting down garden
> and food waste so it must be. So, are compost bins *really* smelly???
>
>
If the composting process is correct and you use a good mix of different
materials then there is virtually no smell unless you get your nose very
close. Even then it is not an unpleasant smell.
Perhaps for aesthetic reasons you could use one of those beehive type
composters. (if you have enough money)
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"Rupert (W.Yorkshire)" <reply@newsgroups.com> wrote in message
news:46220c84@212.67.96.135...
>
> "Space" <space@bt.internet.com> wrote in message
> news:RbqdnYJVuOiXmb_bnZ2dnUVZ8v6dnZ2d@bt.com...
> If the composting process is correct and you use a good mix of different
> materials then there is virtually no smell unless you get your nose very
> close. Even then it is not an unpleasant smell.
> Perhaps for aesthetic reasons you could use one of those beehive type
> composters. (if you have enough money)
don't know about any beehive composters. this is the one I am considering.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/3yhq4p 220ltr
the garden needs a lot of work to make it what I want. eventually I am
considering placing trellis work around it to hide it.
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| Alan Holmes 2007-04-15, 1:25 pm |
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"Space" <space@bt.internet.com> wrote in message
news:RbqdnYJVuOiXmb_bnZ2dnUVZ8v6dnZ2d@bt.com...
>I am considering a compost bin in my small north facing garden.
>
> Because it is north facing I am trying to use the space and moving shadows
> to create somewhere nice to sit in the morning and then somewhere to sit
> mid afternoon when the sun is shining.
>
> The obvious places for a compost bin is near to the bench used in the
> morning, or in a corner next to where the sun loungers go in the
> afternoon.
>
> The planting nearby would provide some shade and therefore the bins would
> not bake in the sun.
>
> However, are compost bins smelly? I know it involves rotting down garden
> and food waste so it must be. So, are compost bins *really* smelly???
No, compost bins do not smell if you select what you are putting in them.
General food waste should be selected, so as not to use any meat, just veg
waste.
Alan
>
>
>
>
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| Broadback 2007-04-15, 1:25 pm |
| Alan Holmes wrote:
> "Space" <space@bt.internet.com> wrote in message
> news:RbqdnYJVuOiXmb_bnZ2dnUVZ8v6dnZ2d@bt.com...
>
> No, compost bins do not smell if you select what you are putting in them.
>
> General food waste should be selected, so as not to use any meat, just veg
> waste.
>
> Alan
>
>
>
Before you purchase one of those check out your local water board(?),
mine, Severn Trent, offer excellent priced composters (Blackwall) as
well as water butts.
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"Broadback" <wen@towill.plus.com> wrote in message
news:58f7voF2gv2rnU1@mid.individual.net...
> Alan Holmes wrote:
> Before you purchase one of those check out your local water board(?),
> mine, Severn Trent, offer excellent priced composters (Blackwall) as well
> as water butts.
I can buy a 220ltr composter for £7.00 online with recyclenow.
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| Peter Robinson 2007-04-15, 5:25 pm |
| Space <space@bt.internet.com> wrote:
> However, are compost bins smelly? I know it involves rotting down garden
> and food waste so it must be. So, are compost bins *really* smelly???
Well, it depends on what you put in it. If you make sure you've got
plently of drysh bulky stuff (like ripped up cardboard) and it gets
going properly, it really shouldn't smell that much at all.
Peter
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| Dave Hill 2007-04-15, 5:25 pm |
| On 15 Apr, 20:40, "Space" <s...@bt.internet.com> wrote:
> "Broadback" <w...@towill.plus.com> wrote in message
>
> news:58f7voF2gv2rnU1@mid.individual.net...
>
>
>
>
em.[color=darkred]
>
>
>
ll[color=darkred]
>
> I can buy a 220ltr composter for =A37.00 online with recyclenow.
You're lucky, our cheapest is from the council for =A317 recyclenow
don't operate in this part of the world.
David Hill
Abacus Nurseries
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| Alan Holmes 2007-04-15, 5:25 pm |
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"Space" <space@bt.internet.com> wrote in message
news:-5-dnRx_NO9D4r_bnZ2dnUVZ8taknZ2d@bt.com...
>
> "Broadback" <wen@towill.plus.com> wrote in message
> news:58f7voF2gv2rnU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> I can buy a 220ltr composter for £7.00 online with recyclenow.
How big, physically, is a 220ltr bin?
>
>
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"Alan Holmes" <alan_holmes@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:WixUh.483$mk4.430@newsfe4-win.ntli.net...
>
> "Space" <space@bt.internet.com> wrote in message
> news:-5-dnRx_NO9D4r_bnZ2dnUVZ8taknZ2d@bt.com...
>
> How big, physically, is a 220ltr bin?
>
height 88cm
width 72cm
depth 72cm
it's taller and wider than the average dustbin
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| Dave Liquorice 2007-04-16, 9:25 am |
| On Sun, 15 Apr 2007 11:52:27 +0100, Space wrote:
> However, are compost bins smelly? I know it involves rotting down
> garden and food waste so it must be.
There are basically two different "rotting processes", aerobic and
anerobic. The nasty smelly one is anerobic (no air/oxygen) but fortunately
a properly working compost bin is aerobic and though I wouldn't say it is
odour free any smell should be mild and sweet.
--
Cheers new5pam@howhill.com
Dave. pam is missing e-mail
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| Rupert \(W.Yorkshire\) 2007-04-16, 9:25 am |
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"Alan Holmes" <alan_holmes@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:WixUh.483$mk4.430@newsfe4-win.ntli.net...[color=darkred]
>
> "Space" <space@bt.internet.com> wrote in message
> news:-5-dnRx_NO9D4r_bnZ2dnUVZ8taknZ2d@bt.com...
>
> How big, physically, is a 220ltr bin?
>
Think of a 45 gall oil drum
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"Space" <space@bt.internet.com> wrote in message
news:RbqdnYJVuOiXmb_bnZ2dnUVZ8v6dnZ2d@bt.com...
>
> However, are compost bins smelly? I know it involves rotting down garden
> and food waste so it must be. So, are compost bins *really* smelly???
>
Thanks for all the responses. I have ordered my 220ltr compost bin and a
7ltr kitchen caddy ....all for £9.00
bargain!
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| Useful linke to check if your postal area is covered:
http://www.recyclenow.com/home_comp..._your_area.html
Also has the dimensions.
--
Baal
I smile and go off waving
(Amiably) - for that's my way
"Space" <space@bt.internet.com> wrote in message
news:ENWdnSrq8bk0Ob_bRVnyuQA@bt.com...
>
> "Alan Holmes" <alan_holmes@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:WixUh.483$mk4.430@newsfe4-win.ntli.net...
>
> height 88cm
> width 72cm
> depth 72cm
>
> it's taller and wider than the average dustbin
>
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
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| Space wrote:
> I am considering a compost bin in my small north facing garden.
>
>
>
> However, are compost bins smelly? I know it involves rotting down
> garden and food waste so it must be. So, are compost bins *really*
> smelly???
Depends what you put in them,Space.
Food waste is a definite No-No.
Meat and fish scraps likewise.
Peelings, stalks of brocolli and cabbages,
shells of peas and beans ,as well as garden haulms
from spuds, tomatoes, beans, anything not cooked
and of vegetable origin is the biz.
To heat up the heap/bin add nettles (loads)
and when it gets fairly full lift the bin off the contents
and put it down alongside, then lift the old contents
and move them all into the now empty bin, giving
them a shake up as you do so to aerate them.
Do not be in a hurry to use it, otherwise it will
continue to rot down in the ground.
When it's good and ready it will be dark,rich, and crumbly,
full of worms and smelling great.
I've just turned mine, now it can wait until autumn
before spreading and digging in. Wow!
Sam
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| Gregoire Kretz 2007-04-26, 9:25 am |
| Baal <bertolt@brecht.com> wrote:
> Useful linke to check if your postal area is covered:
>
> http://www.recyclenow.com/home_comp..._your_area.html
Many thanks for this, very useful.
I've started prodding the neighbours on installing some for the flats,
this cheap scheme should make it easier to convince them.
As stated by the other posters compost shouldn't smell bad, in fact it
should have just a very faint smell of humus which isn't unpleasant at
all.
One tip I was given to help is to leave grass cuttings on the soil for a
few hours before composting them: they dry up a little, which helps
prevent clogging and the anaeroby fermentation which later causes nasty
smells. Otherwise just shaking it up once in a while helps, but that's
it!
Greg
--
You may ask yourself, how do I work this?
No ficus = no spam
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