Very small space composting

[PompomDahlia]

I have a small urban garden - 5x7 metres approx. I generate a lot of garden waste from container plants and a large cherry and olive tree and from neighbours trees - probably a black sack every couple of weeks. I also have a few tougher leaved tropicals like cannas and bananas. I’d like to compost this, especially with autumn coming up when there will be a lot of leaf fall. The compost bin would
need to stand on paved ground, not soil.

My council does food waste collection so I’m not so fussed about adding this - I’m also worried about vermin given the very small garden. Any suggestions for a good small compost set up which can live on paving slabs in a fairly shaded (But warm and sheltered) area? Will the cannas etc break down?

I have a 'yarden' with patio slabs and containers. We took some slabs up to stand the compost dalek on so it drained and worms can go in and out

We do Bokashi to help the initial breakdown then add to a big plastic box with worms to finish off. Would something like that help you? MiL has a yard and does hot composting but curses it daily!

Have a look at the small Hotbin.

Thanks all. I’ve seen mixed reviews for the Hotbin which makes me reluctant to shell out the initial money.

@RaininSummer taking up a slab isn’t an option unfortunately.

@JohnLapsleyParlabane the Bokashi may be an option. How often do you switch over the waste?

We have 4 Bokashi bins, do a daily drain on the current one, weekly on the others. We could empty the filled ones after about 8wks but usually leave it till we need an empty one.

I didn't get on with bokashi at all. It was the smell of the finished product! Stinky! I've got a big garden so I could get rid of it on the compost heap or dig it straight into a raised bed somewhere far from the house.

In a small space I would go with a wormery every time. You might want to look at a small shredder for some of the chunkier waste, or just cut it up. I put some of my food waste on it too.

You get worm tea which you can use as fertiliser, and the finished product is ready to go and is brilliant for seed sowing.

I just dump it all in a corner. Not sure it makes the best compost. But it's mainly grass and leaves.

I've been wondering above the rotating drum type, but no idea how good they are.

i’d go for a hotbin. Neat, contained, a bit fiddlier than a normal Dalek, but as long as you have a good mix of green and browns it should be ok

Noooo, useless 😝

We have a Hozelock rotating compost bin. It’s brilliant for a small space so neat. We only put fresh waste in it, nothing cooked. At the bottom there is a reservoir for the liquid, which is great fertiliser. We put it in bottles and water it down to feed the veg and plants in the summer.
posting a photo.