Size, heat, air, moisture, plus some additional factors.

Being a long-term fan of re-cycling, I believe that the most useful and absorbing way is composting; it reduces not only your domestic waste to something very useful but also your fuel costs by not having to transport yet more stuff to the dump.

Constructing the bin:

There are certain considerations to be taken into account before you start your compost. The first is size (essential#1). The ideal quantity of at least the first bin or box or whatever, should be about a cubic metre. This is a good quantity to get the necessary generation of heat (essential#2) needed for efficient composting.

Bearing this in mind, you are then obliged to think about the position but more of this in a bit.

Unless you want to go to the expense of buying a ready-made bin in, say, plastic, the best material is wood and the best way of obtaining this is in the form of new or used pallets.

Although these tend to come in various dimensions, the most common, conveniently happen to be about 1m. X 1.m so if you can lay your hands on, what? 3 or four at this size, you’re laughing. Having said that, 80 cms in height is acceptable.

It is preferable to modify these pallets, i.e. to prise off unwanted planks and blocks. This can be a bit of a challenge sometimes because the nails that hold them together are designed to do just that: hold them together (these nails have a slight spiral form which gives them extra grip).

You’ll need tools like a claw-hammer and one or two “Jemmy-Bars” plus some pliers or pincers as well.

Try, if you can, to collect these nails as they can be re-cycled in the construction you are about to undertake. Also not ecologically sound to leave them littered about, of course!

So now, having taken off all superfluous appendages, you should be looking at 3 to 4 flat, 1 metre square components.

Now you have to nail these together to make the sides, the back and the front of your bin so you might need the help of another volunteer, or some cramps to secure these in position whilst you are nailing away.

Once you’ve finished putting all this together, you should be looking at a 3-sided square-ish and hopefully tidy wooden construction. In the next step I’ll be getting a bit more technical – ooh-er!

In the meantime, go and make yourself a nice cup of tea; you’ve deserved it…