While there are plenty of commercial compost bins on the market, it's entirely possible to build one of your own. Compost bins can be as simple or complicated as you like, and if you're doing the work yourself, you're not limited to specific dimensions or materials. You can even do without a bin, but they help keep the pile in a specific place, and make some operations easier. In some areas, compost bins are mandatory. These areas may also have specific requirements for a compost bin, so be sure to check with your local government before you start building.
Any effective compost pile must be at least three feet wide, three feet high, and three feet deep. That means that compost bins should be this size or larger. Don't make any compost bin more than about six feet high, because an overly tall pile will tend to create pockets of anaerobic bacterial activity, as the weight crushes the pile. Areas without oxygen stall your compost pile, and are to be avoided. Several small piles are better than one giant one.
One of the simplest compost bins you can make at home is by using a three foot wide piece of wire fencing. This fencing should be ten feet long, and can be shaped into a circle. Use connectors from the hardware store to hold it in place, and you'll have a quick and easy compost bin. However, when you remove this bin to turn the pile, it may tend to collapse. Creating a "door" in your compost bin helps prevent collapsing problems while still keeping the ability to aerate your compost.
Another very easy compost bin is made from recycled wood pallets. Just tie or hinge three of them together to form the sides and back of a bin. You can use a fourth as a door for the front, or just leave it open. A little creativity makes it simple to turn this method into a multi-bin system for easy compost rotation.
Bricks, stones, or concrete blocks, set without mortar, can create a bin. This type of compost bin looks nice and is easy to set up and take down. Remember to stagger the blocks, leaving a half inch between them, so that your compost pile will get enough air. You can easily build a three sided bin with an open front in this way, and creating a multi-bin system is simple. Just add more blocks.
If you have a little skill at carpentry, you can build a wooden bin with commonly available lumber. Compost bins made from 2x4s are very common. Just make sure that you use only lumber that hasn't been treated. Weather treated lumber may hold up well against rot, but it contains arsenic, and can be bad for your compost. If you don't have any ideas for how to build this sort of compost bin, check online, at the hardware store, or at your library. Plans for wooden compost bins are usually easy to find, and the bins themselves can be built in a weekend.
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