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Insulating compost bin

Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 5:41 pm
by Si_hitch
Hi everyone! Just after your opinions, I have 4 darlek style compost bins on my allotment which I was thinking about wrapping in bubble wrap and black "cling film". My thoughts were that this would maintain a warm, active compost heap throughout the winter. Has anyone tried this, is there any value to this idea? :?:

Re: Insulating compost bin

Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 8:01 pm
by Primrose
Firstly, where are the bins situated? Are they in a shady corner of your plot or located by a hedge which shields out the sun for part of the day, even if winter sun doesnt have much warmth in it ? This could make a slight difference.
Insulating the bins might make a difference but I suspect also the different type of materials added might also change the speed at which the various materials decompose.

Putting a cheap maximum and minimum thermometer in them might give you some idea of the current temperatures being achieved. Why not experimental with putting insulating bubble wrap round one of them using aa maximum/minimum thermometer although the inside temperature will obviously change throughout the winter depending on whether we have snow, frost etc and daily temperatures.

I,d be intrigued to know the answer to this do please come back and report on results if you decide to experiment, or if anybody else has any ideas on how to speed up composting. My two open wire compost cages are located in the shadiest corner of the garden by a north facing fence and if I could find any easy practical way of speeding up composting in these conditions I would glad to try them .

Welcome to the forum by the way. Please do stay on here and share your ideas and experience.

Re: Insulating compost bin

Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 8:09 pm
by Pa Snip
HI, Personally I would not consider a full body wrap in clingfilm.
Almost certainly would cause sweat at times, likely to encourage soggy or sour aroma

My heaps are all open to the elements, having been made from old pallets, I just accept that my composting takes time by letting decompose naturally with pretty reasonable results

Re: Insulating compost bin

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 8:49 am
by Colin2016
What about lining the inside with cardboard?

Since moving to pallet type compost bins the temp has been around 60/70 active/hot where as the darlek type got hot for a few days then dropped off.

Re: Insulating compost bin

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 8:53 am
by robo
I agree with Colin line with cardboard ,it's cheap and will rot down you could also use news papers especially the sun as it's full of crap to start off with

Re: Insulating compost bin

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 8:53 am
by Colin2016
Another thought on pallet verses darlek.

There are gaps in pallets but not in the darlek as compost needs air could this be reason darlek does not get hot.

Re: Insulating compost bin

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 6:04 pm
by Colin2016
Noticed a darlek bin with slots in the side, first one I have seen like this.

Re: Insulating compost bin

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 6:49 pm
by Si_hitch
robo wrote:I agree with Colin line with cardboard ,it's cheap and will rot down you could also use news papers especially the sun as it's full of crap to start off with

:lol:

Re: Insulating compost bin

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2018 7:50 pm
by Stephen
I use 3 dalek bins on the 'lottie. I'm sure I could do better but I don't need to accommodate more volume and I already have them.
My experience is that inital break down is quite rapid but it slows later. I follow standard procedure and mix in as much cardboard as is readily available.
With three bins, I mix the stuff around. As I dig out one, the top, less rotted stuff goes in another bin and I use the better stuff from the bottom.