Making a compost bin out of a wheelie bin

Hi all, I'm new to the forum so will introduce myself first. I'm Ollie, 45 and have had my first allotment for 2 months now. I'm wanting to build a compost bin and have acquired a wheelie bin from a council worker friend that's slightly damage (the bin, not the friend!). I've been racking my brains as to what use I can put it too and thought it would make a good compost bin with a bit of mods.  What are your thoughts and suggestions on how to do this please from someone who hasn't a clue and has never composted before.

Kind regards, ollie. 

Hi Ollie!   

Ermm, I'm more of a mad inventor than an expert designer, but I think a good-sized wheely-bin is already of sufficiently good design to be used as a compost bin without much work.

Main problem if yours tapers towards the base is getting the compost out; even if you cut most of the bottom out (leaving an inch all round the edge to retain some of the structural rigidity) you will find it almost impossible to get the stuff out "sand-pie" style!

The good news is that the handles and wheels would make it relatively easy to upend to empty it, in which case you may as well leave the base in place but drill a series of hole in the bottom (no more than 3/8";  a flat wood-boring bit works well on plastic.)

That would keep rats out, let excess water drain, but allow worms to get in and help the composting process.

Thanks for the advice guys  :)if I drill holes in the bottom and sides do I have to keep turning the compost?

Thanks for the advice guys  :)if I drill holes in the bottom and sides do I have to keep turning the compost?

You can buy compost "stirrers" which have a long handle and collapsible "V" wings at the business end; you push it down into the compost and then lift the stuff from near the bottom towards the top (they're not that easy to use but still a lot easier than emptying it all out and shovelling it all back in again!)