Hot Compost Bin

[Mummyoply]

Does anyone have a hot compost bin? I currently have 2 standard compost bins and one needs replacing. I'm wondering if a hot composter would be worth the expense? I am also trying to reduce our household waste to eventually become waste free. I realise this is a tall order and I'm just making small changes each week at the moment.

So, does anyone have one and are they worth it?

I'm thinking of going worm bin - look up continuous worm composters, they look awesome.
There's a kiwi one called hungrybin, expensive but similar to a hot bin I think.
A relative has a hot bin, not massively successful I believe but that may have been teething trouble.

I'll have a look, thanks

I had a hot bin and didn't get on with it. Sold it on eventually and have had better results with a three bin system.

I have been looking at hot compost bins too. Our LA doesn't do a food waste collection and although our food waste isn't massive there are inevitably things that go in the bin e.g. chicken bones, plate scrapings etc. The hot compost seemed like a good solution but not if it doesn't work ... would be keen to hear more about the issues.

We’ve made a hot composter for one of our bins by lining it with polystyrene. Works really well

have had better results with a three bin system. Yes, I was wondering how OP would manage if she in effect reduced her traditional composting to a one-bin system.

We’ve made a hot composter for one of our bins by lining it with polystyrene. Works really well What have you done to protect the polystyrene from being damaged by your shovel when you're emptying the bin?

I found I couldn't get it up to temperature, so it didn't compost quickly and didn't break down the stuff completely, and I found it hard to empty (as mere says the polystyrene means you can't be fought with the spade when emptying.) So the only benefit for me was that it was sealed and no flies, but it wasn't big enough for the food waste and garden waste from my very modest semi detached plot. My new system performs better, takes more waste, and surprisingly I haven't had any issue with flies despite it being open.

@MereDintofPandiculation

have had better results with a three bin system. Yes, I was wondering how OP would manage if she in effect reduced her traditional composting to a one-bin system.

We’ve made a hot composter for one of our bins by lining it with polystyrene. Works really well What have you done to protect the polystyrene from being damaged by your shovel when you're emptying the bin?

Its one of the large square plastic bins. Polystyrene round the 4 sides and we made a new lid also lined with polystyrene. I usually dig a bit out at the bottom (left bit behind flap free of polystyrene) then i pull the whole thing over to empty.

"have had better results with a three bin system. Yes, I was wondering how OP would manage if she in effect reduced her traditional composting to a one-bin system."

@MereDintofPandiculation I would still have a regular compost bin. I have 2 regular ones at the moment and just need to replace one, but what with? It's a minefield!

I would also like to know more about the pitfalls of the hot composter or from anyone who gets on well with one

I’ve got a hot bin, had it for a year. I’ve never composted before so bit of a novice! We don’t have food waste collected here so wanted to add that. I managed to get it up to temperature but over the winter it has dropped off as no garden waste!
You do have to regularly empty the liquid from the bottom and make sure you get the balance of things going in right. I suspect it will work much better for someone who is good at it 😂. I got partly composted wet goo out!

I have two tumbler bins from Draper. I dont need to fork them. Just turn them when I feel like it. Saves on hard work turning a compost pile. Works well.

surprisingly I haven't had any issue with flies despite it being open. I was surprised at your mention of flies - I don't have any trouble with them in the open system, except when I dump a whole lot of squeezed fruit from the fruit press, and even then I could just dump a load of weeds on top if I could be bothered. I assume you're talking about tiny fruit flies, not bluebottles and blowflies?

then i pull the whole thing over to empty. Ah - wouldn't work with my metre-cubed bins containing at least half a tonne of compost

Saves on hard work turning a compost pile. The only time I "turn" my compost pile is when I've just finished emptying on of the bins. Then I move to the next bin to be emptied, and tip the unrotted layer on top into the emptied bin.

If you don't put too thick a layer of any one type of waste in at a time, then traditional compost bins cope well on no turning.

@MereDintofPandiculation

surprisingly I haven't had any issue with flies despite it being open. I was surprised at your mention of flies - I don't have any trouble with them in the open system, except when I dump a whole lot of squeezed fruit from the fruit press, and even then I could just dump a load of weeds on top if I could be bothered. I assume you're talking about tiny fruit flies, not bluebottles and blowflies?

then i pull the whole thing over to empty. Ah - wouldn't work with my metre-cubed bins containing at least half a tonne of compost

Mine is that size and amazingly it can be done

I have a hot compost bin. Only got it at end of last year, so cold weather, and it's at the allotment so it doesn't get a lot of attention.
The hot compost bin, even with neglect as only down allotment once a week in winter is doing its thing well. It needs lots of browns / shredded paper/ wood chips to help with air.
Lots of liquid off it, which we use as plant feed.
Summer will give a better indication on if it makes compost in the time claimed but so far impressed

I get on with mine very well. I'm not quite sure I run it hot enough, so it's an excellent wormery but I get a lot of compost out of it. Mine is mainly filled with paper, chicken poo, woodchip & food waste. Chooks stalk it for the worms

Thanks for all the feedback

I’ve got a hotbin. I put all food waste including bones and cooked food, peelings, pet bedding, wood cat litter (no poo), garden waste into it, as well as lots of torn up cardboard. I don’t bother with the wood chip that’s recommended and have had no issues. I think you need a decent activator to keep it hot - I’ve got plenty of chicken poop as we’ve got a small flock of hens, so no problems with it getting and staying hot, I’ve had a barrow load of compost off it every month pretty much since I got it which is amazing for winter. Same kind of quality I’d normally get from over 6 months in a standard regularly turned heap. Usually my compost bins would be overflowing at this time of year but it’s actually hard to keep it topped up as I’ve been using the compost as mulch. Absolutely love it and glad I got it.

@Flydesk is it one of the Hotbin ones? I have a discount code and really very tempted just to be able to deal with our food waste.

I was given one, don’t put any bones or meat in ... use cardboard and wood clippings.

I was doing ok with it but husband doesn’t listen and just puts lots of wet kitchen waste in and doesn’t layer so it’s kind of died....

I found it quite hard...

I use a 3 bin system at the allotment where I have more space and that’s easier and faster.

I've got a hot bin, and in the summer and it was good, once we'd got it sorted out. But now it's covered in fruit flies, which come into the house. Yuck.

@hanahsaunt yes, a hotbin. I actually now have 2, as I loved the first one so much. @SeaRabbit I’m guessing it’s not up to temperature if you’re getting flies - I’ve been really lucky that mine have been ticking over at 60 degrees pretty constantly so no flies etc - fairly sure it’s all the chicken poop!!

I have one. I was extremely excited to have it, as I'd never composted before. But it very rarely gets to temperature, despite be slavishly layering green and brown waste, and churning it all. It barely produces any compost.

I must check the liquid level actually.