3-Bin System
- For Basic “Add as You Go” or “Batch”
Composting
- Requires minimum 3 feet x 9 feet of yard space
- Excellent for hot composting - has removable front slats for
easy turning, and separate bins for turning and aging compost,
and/or storing compostables
- Can produce large amounts of compost
- Carpentry skills needed for construction
- $250 - $300 for new materials
Materials
- 2x4" wood: (8) 31 ½", (8) 36", (4) 9',
and (4) 29" pieces
- 2x6" wood: (4) 36" pieces
- 2x2" wood: (6) 34 ½", (1) 9', and (4) 29"
pieces
- 1x6" wood: (19) 31" pieces
- ¼" mesh hardware cloth: 30'x3'
- Carriage bolts (12) 3-½"x3/8", with washers
and nuts
- 12 penny galvanized nails (2 pounds)
- 8 penny galvanized nails (1 pound)
- Poultry wire staples (1 pound)
- Corrugated fiberglass, 4 oz.: (2) 8'x26" pieces
- Gasketed roofing nails: (40)
- Wiggle molding (18 feet)
- 3" hinges, zinc plated, galvanized or brass (3)
- 4" flat corner braces (4) with 1" wood screws
- 4" flat "T" braces: (4), with 1" wood
screws
- (4) hook eyes, and 8' of light cable or chain
Tools
Power saw (use eye protection) or hand saw, drill with 3/8 inch
and 1/16 inch bits, screwdriver, hammer, tin snips, tape measure,
pencil, socket or wrench, carpenter’s square.
Assembly
1. Main Structure
Butt nail two 31-½ inch and two 36 inch2x4s together with
12 penny nails to form each of four screen dividers. Cut four
36x33-½" wire mesh pieces, and staple (every four
inches) to frames after checking frames for squareness. Bolt dividers
to three 9 foot2x4s as shown (inside measurement between dividers
should be 31-5/16"). Tack in 29 inchse2x4s as shown. Staple
one 9'x3' piece of wire mesh (every four inches) to back of structure,
and one 9'x3' piece to the bottom.
2. Slats and Slat Tracks
Nail 2x6s to front of dividers. Nail 34-½ inch 2x2"
onto frames as shown. Leave at least one inch for the slats to
slide in. The last slat of each bin section may need to be cut
lengthwise to fit.
3. Lid
Assemble lid frame as shown, with flat corner and "T"
braces on the bottom side. Pre drill nail holes every couple of
feet into wiggle molding humps, and attach molding to 9' 2x2 and
9' 2x4 with 8 penny nails. Note position of wiggle molding on
2x4 in drawing. Cut fiberglass into five 32" pieces with
tin snips. Pre drill fiberglass and wiggle molding on top of every
third hump, and nail together with gasketed nails. Be sure to
overlay fiberglass pieces at least one channel wide, and before
attaching the last piece, trim off excess fiberglass. Attach lid
to frame with hinges. Attach heavy duty cable or chain to lid
and main frame with hook eyes as shown (to prevent lid from falling
all the way back). Basic Bin
| Urban All-Wood Bin | 3-Bin
System | Plastic Worm Bin |
2-Person Wooden Worm Bin |
