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Compost Tools

What To Look For

Function

You don't actually need a designated bin if you want to make compost; often, a well-tended, simple pile in your backyard will be sufficient. However, indoor and outdoor compost bins help conceal waste piles and the odors they may emit and keep animals from rummaging through your food scraps. Compost carriers may be kept clean with compostable, starch-based liners like those listed above, and some come equipped with carbon filters to reduce odors.

Compost tea makers allow you to convert the organic material in compost to a liquid that's more easily and rapidly digested by soil organisms, providing results a little faster than using plain compost. Catalysts contain beneficial microbes used in brewing to speed up the process.

Vermicomposting uses earthworms to break down organic solid waste into nutrient-rich worm castings that can be used as a soil conditioner and fertilizer. Quicker than standard composting, vermicomposting can break down 6 to 8 pounds of organic material each day. Avoid feeding the worms animal products and oily foods, which can cause odors and attract pests. Since earthworms are an invasive species in the United States and can harm some delicate eco-systems, such as Minnesota's hardwood forests, eliminate the worms and their eggs by freezing the compost for one month before spreading it outdoors.

Size

Before you buy a composter, determine what you'll be composting- food scraps only or lawn and garden clippings as well. The more you compost, the larger the composter should be. If you plan on composting leaves and lawn clippings, composters should be at least 3 cubic feet, which will give you enough finished compost to cover 324 sq. ft. with 1 inch.

Material

The most common material for composters and compost bins is plastic. Therefore, look for the highest percentage of recycled content you can find. Avoid those made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which releases carcinogenic dioxin into the atmosphere when it's manufactured and incinerated.

Ceramic compost pots blend in nicely with your personal decor if you need a small container to gather compostable materials indoors.