Thinking about buying a compost bin for your small garden?
You’re in the right place…
In this post I will independently review the best compost bins available to buy online in the UK now. I’ll also share some composting secrets to help you.
Note: The bins I recommend are from a UK company based in Leeds. Back British to help rebuild the economy.
Let’s start by looking at some key features of the bins I review.
Quality
- Recycled plastic used
Easy to Use
- Easy to assemble
Trusted
- Reputable UK sellers
Environment
- *Carbon footprint certified
* See here for more details about carbon footprint certification. Only the plastic compost bins are certified.
Compost bins are a great way to recycle food waste and provide nutrition for your garden plants. It’s ideal for those with small to large gardens and allotments.
The compost bins I review below are cheap and durable. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of composting at home in your garden:
Advantages
- Wasted food is recycled
- Your plants get nourished for free
- Compost bins are cheap and compact
- They require no maintenance
Disadvantages
- Sometimes the compost can smell
Do Compost Bins Smell?
The short answer is yes, they can.
But you can minimise this by using a layer of soil every now and then. Simply continue adding your garden and household food waste to the bin, then shovel in a layer of soil.
Composting Secrets & How to use a Compost Bin
USE SOIL as a layer every so often will reduce the smell from your compost and help accelerate the process by adding micro-organisms which are present in the soil. They will feed off the rotting compost.
GRASS TRIMMINGS should be sprinkled in amongst other waste to avoid them clumping together and reducing the composting speed.
CHOP UP larger waste items into smaller pieces so they decompose quicker.
START YOUR COMPOST on soil so that worms and air can get into the mix to speed things up
USE TWIGS or straw as a base to allow drainage and to help aerate the compost pile
BE MINDFUL that fruit skins such as oranges, bananas, etc can contain pesticides so you might not want to add them in.
DO NOT add meat, fish or bone waste as this will attract animals and pests to your garden.
DO NOT add weeds to your compost pile as they may spread when you churn out the compost to your garden.
DO NOT use pet manures if you are using the compost for food crops such as on a vegetable patch.
For more information see this helpful and insightful post.
My Pick of the Best Compost Bins for Your Garden
Blackwall Compost Bin
This well designed compost bin comes in 2 colours (black or green) and 2 sizes (220 or 330 litre). It’s stable, includes a 15 year warranty and UK made.
Over 3 million sold, it’s the No.1 best selling compost bin in the UK and for good reason. It works perfectly to help convert waste into nutrient dense compost in your garden.
Advantages: UK made, guaranteed, light, cheap
Disadvantages: None
Approx. price range: £16-22
Whitefurze 220L Compost Bin
This 220 litre, black compost bin is well made and will last a lifetime. Best used for grass clippings and leaves.
There is no base, as it encourages the worms and insects to come up into the bin from the ground. The tight, windproof lid ensures the heat stays in so as the speed up composting process.
Dimensions: 70cm (28 inch) x 75cm (30 inch) x 84cm (33 inch)
Made from recycled materials and the front hatch detaches to allow removal of composted material. Suitable for most medium sized gardens.
Advantages: UK made, robust, easy to use
Disadvantages: Cost
Approx. price range: £55
Best Wooden Compost Bin
480 Litre Wood Compost Bin
Easy to assemble – just 4 mins. Excellent capacity – 480 litres. Uses FSC-certified wood.
No nails or screws are required and the sides slide out for easy access. A non-toxic wood preservative has been used to treat the wood. Only 75cm high so easy to add to.
Note: Lid sold separately on Even Greener. You can add multiple units together for extra capacity.
Advantages: UK made, FSC-certified wood, modular to allow for expansion
Disadvantages: Costs more than plastic
Approx. price range: £90
Why These Compost Bins from Even Greener?
Even Greener are a UK based company and manufacturer most of the bins in Leeds. Supporting British businesses helps the economy, which I think is a good idea.
The products which they produce are made to UK standards, they’re trustworthy and have produced millions of bins which are in use throughout the UK already.
I have complete trust in them and based on customer feedback it seems the public do, too.
