Dishing the Dirt Study: Choosing a compost bin

Using a bin is a tidy, space-saving way to make compost. Bins come in many sizes and shapes and can be purchased or built. When choosing a bin, consider

• Ease of use: Can you easily add, turn, and remove materials?
• Size: Will your bin hold and process the amount of material you have?
• Assembly: Does your bin require special skills, materials or tools to assemble?
• Aeration: Does your bin allow some air in to reach the materials?
• Moisture: Does your bin help your compost pile retain moisture?
• Animals: Will your bin prevent animals from getting at its contents?

Local study: Dishing the Dirt: A compost solution for every situation

Download full report

The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council thanks the City of Saskatoon and the City of Regina for funding this year-long study, and our brave volunteer testers for participating. While all numerical data comes from our biweekly surveys, the recommendations and conclusions expressed are the views of the authors.

Executive summary

In 2014, the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council undertook a comprehensive study of 26 different onsite compost methods with financial support from the cities of Saskatoon and Regina. Each of these compost systems were tested by a different Saskatchewan household, office, or community garden over the course of one year. The purpose of this study was to investigate a variety of different composting options in order to identify which methods work best in different kinds of households or institutions. The end goal was to create a set of simple recommendations that would help households and institutions pick a composting method that works well for them. It was also meant to test these compost methods in the Saskatchewan climate.

The SWRC tested stationary bins, tumbling bins, in-the-dirt methods, and indoor methods. One general finding was that the relative price of a compost system was not a reliable indicator of how well it worked.

Another finding was that the choice of optimal compost system depended on whether the user was a “hands-on” or a “hands-off” composter. Hands-on composters generally had more composting experience and knowledge and had more time available to tend their compost systems. Hands-off composters were still happy to divert their organic waste but had less familiarity and time to spend. This distinction had implications for which systems worked best for each group.

The stationary bins varied by their balance of airflow and insulation, how they were meant to be aerated, and their capacity. Of these differences, capacity proved the most important. We found that hands-on households who could keep their piles active could make do with lower capacity bins, while hands-off households did better with large stationary bins that could be run at a slower pace without filling up prematurely. The larger bins were also better for those who wished to continue diverting their organic waste in winter, as they had more room to stockpile frozen materials.

The tumbling bins generally had small capacities, and worked best for hands-on households. Tumblers can be easier to aerate than stationary bins and are more rodent-proof. However our tumblers were considerably more expensive than the stationary bins and did not fare well in winter. Their small capacity didn’t allow for much frozen waste and their doors sometimes froze shut.

The in-the-dirt systems were some of the most simple and cheap methods of composting we found, and could work well for hands-off households. However they are generally inaccessible in the winter months and not available to those with no free garden space.

While the indoor composting options (bokashi, vermiculture) worked well for our volunteers, these systems leave less margin for error as odor and pests are more problematic in indoor spaces. These systems function through the winter, but are not suitable for handling yard waste and require a more hands-on approach.

Multiple brands and set ups are tested in the report. For a breakdown of how various brands performed and which are recommended, please see the report. Note that this study was done in 2014 so some models may have changed.

It is important to properly match a household or institution to the right compost method. Determining what methods their space allows, as well as what fits best with their level of experience and available time is key to their composting success.