Different Types of Compost Bins (and How To Choose One)

When speaking of composting, many of us will automatically think of a traditional backyard compost bin. But the truth is, there are many different types of compost bins – let’s explore a range of different options to suit your unique lifestyle, time and space.

Different Types of Compost Bins

Like nature’s version of recycling, composting decomposes organic waste and turns it into nutrient-rich compost. This process can divert waste from landfill, capture carbon and improve the health of soil, plants and the planet at large.

Each composting method achieves a similar result – compost or ’black gold’ as it’s often called. But the way you get there can depend on the method you choose.

This article will dive into five different types of compost bins so you can choose the best compost bin for your space.

Traditional Backyard Compost

As the name suggests, this method uses a traditional compost bin or container in your backyard. This method accelerates nature’s natural recycling process, breaking down your organic food and garden waste.

Pros of a Backyard Compost

Large capacity – a backyard compost bin can typically take on a large amount of organic waste, making it perfect for larger households and families.
Easy to get started – just place it in your backyard, know what to put in it, and watch the process happen!
Less worms – some of us love worms, but if they’re not your thing, a backyard compost might be a better option for you.

Cons of a Backyard Compost

Maintenance – while backyard compost is still quite easy, they may need more maintenance than a worm farm (the worms do the work for you!) You need to layer, turn and keep the backyard compost moist.
Space – a backyard compost can take up space, which can be unfeasible for small backyards or apartments.

A Backyard Compost Is Good For:

Large families or households that create a lot of organic waste.
Large backyards, allowing you to place the compost bin away from the house.

Vermicomposting (Worm Farm)

This method uses worms to break down organic matter and produce valuable worm excrete castings. Just place your organic waste in the vermicompost bin and watch your worms eat their way through it!

Pros of a Vermicompost

Low maintenance – the worms do a lot of the work for you! It’s likely a vermicompost will require less maintenance than a backyard compost.
Less space – a worm farm can be scaled up or down to suit the space you’re in – whether that’s a big backyard or an apartment. Your worms will reproduce enough to fill the space they’re in (how cool is that?)
Fast – worms can accelerate the decomposition process compared to traditional backyard composting.
Excrete castings – also known as worm manure, vermicomposting will produce valuable excrete castings for you to use in your garden.

Cons of a Vermicompost

Worms – this could be a pro or a con depending on who you talk to. Some people don’t like having to deal with worms!
Capacity – a worm farm might not have as much capacity as traditional backyard composting methods.

A Vermicompost Is Good For:

Those with small backyards or spaces.
Those who have a moderate amount of organic waste.
Those who are time-poor (the worms do a lot of the work for you!)

Compost Tumbler

This is similar to a traditional backyard compost, only the compost container is a barrel that can be rotated or turned. This can make the process of aerating your compost easier. This method accelerates nature’s natural recycling process, breaking down your organic food and garden waste.

Pros of a Compost Tumbler

Easier maintenance – turning your compost is often considered easier than having to manually aerate the compost pile.
Fast – most compost tumblers are sealed, which can speed up the composting process. This often makes it faster than a traditional compost bin.
Pest-proof – the sealed nature of a compost tumbler makes it more resistant to pests and rodents.

Cons of a Compost Tumbler

Space – a compost tumbler can take up space (similar to the space required for a backyard compost bin), which can be unfeasible for small backyards or apartments.
Cost – compost tumblers are often more expensive than traditional backyard compost bins.
Strength – a compost tumbler may become difficult to rotate when it’s full, requiring a large amount of manual labour.

A Compost Tumbler Is Good For:

Large families or households that create a lot of organic waste.
Large backyards, allowing you to place the compost bin away from the house.

Bokashi Composting

Bokashi is a Japanese word meaning ‘fermented organic matter.’ This method uses anaerobic fermentation to break down organic matter – food waste is sealed with a special mix of bacteria and yeast. Pros of a Bokashi Compost

Easy – a bokashi bin is relatively simple to set up and use, just fill up the bin, seal it, and leave it to ferment!
Less space – a bokashi compost bin can be done indoors, making it incredibly popular for apartments and townhouses.
Fast – thanks to the fermentation process, a bokashi compost bin breaks down organic matter quickly (typically quicker than traditional backyard compost or vermicompost).
Pest-free – the bokashi is tightly sealed during the fermentation process, reducing the likelihood of pests. This also means you can break down meat and animal products.

Cons of a Bokashi Compost

Cost – bokashi can involve an initial setup cost and the ongoing cost of buying the bacteria and yeast mixture (often referred to as bokashi bran). This can be more expensive than other methods.
Scale – bokashi is usually a much smaller scale, so it’s often not suitable for large amounts of garden waste.
Disposal – it can be hard to find a way to dispose of it if you don’t have a garden and your council doesn’t allow it in the organics bin.
Odors – bokashi can be quite pungent, it’s designed to be buried in your garden or compost bin, or sent to a commercial facility.

A Bokashi Compost Is Good For:

Apartments and townhouses.
Those with no or a small amount of garden waste.
Those who are willing to buy bokashi bran.

Subpod Compost

A type of vermicompost, a Subpod is an in-ground and self-fertilising composting system. Simply place the Subpod in your garden bed, fill it with food and garden waste, then worms and microbes get to work. Over time, the nutrients created feed your soil and plants.

Pros of a Subpod Compost

Easy – because it’s self-fertilising and comes with in-built ventilation, a Subpod is incredibly easy to use. Just fill it with your food and garden waste and it directly feeds the soil.
Less space – a Subpod compost can be placed in-ground or in your garden bed, taking up less space than traditional compost bins. This makes it ideal for apartments with balconies and small areas. The Subpod can also double as a seat!
Fast – worms can accelerate the decomposition process compared to traditional backyard composting.
Odor and mess free – since the bin is buried, it doesn’t omit unpleasant smells.

Cons of a Subpod Compost

Worms – this could be a pro or a con depending on who you talk to. Some people don’t like having to deal with worms!
Capacity – a Subpod might not have as much capacity as traditional backyard composting methods.

A Subpod Compost Is Good For:

Apartments with balconies and townhouses – you can hide it in your garden bed!
Time-poor composters – the Subpod self-fertilises and directly feeds the soil.

How To Choose a Compost Bin – Questions To Ask

Here are some questions to help you choose the right method.

How much organic waste do you produce? Every household is different. For example, a big family with lots of food waste will have different composting requirements than a single homeowner in an apartment. If you have a small amount of kitchen waste, you might opt for bokashi composting because it requires minimal space. If you have a big family, you might opt for a large backyard compost bin.

How much space do you have? If you live in an apartment or townhouse with minimal space, you might choose the space-saving bokashi or Subpod method. Otherwise, if you have a large backyard with lots of space, you might opt for the traditional backyard compost or vermicompost.

How much time can you spend composting? The time commitment can vary between composting methods. A worm farm or Subpod (vermicompost) is a great choice if you’re busy, as worms do a lot of the work for you! Backyard composting can allow for a lot of food waste, but it can be more involved as you often need to layer it, keep it moist and turn your compost. Bokashi composting is straightforward, but you’ll need to commit to ordering bokashi bran and regularly emptying your bin.

Apartment Composting Options

Good news. Just because you live in an apartment doesn’t mean you can’t compost. There are a handful of options suited to apartment living.

A bokashi compost bin is a great apartment composting option. You simply place the bokashi bucket indoors, layer your compost with bokashi bran, then enjoy nutrient-rich fertiliser in as little as 2 weeks.
A Subpod compost bin can be used in a garden bed on an apartment balcony – simple! It also directly feeds your soil.
If you’ve got the space, a standing vermicompost bin can also be used on an apartment balcony.

Best Compost Bin

It’s hard to narrow down the best compost bin as this will depend on your lifestyle, space, time and amount of organic waste. But to help you narrow it down, here’s a rough guide:

If you live in an apartment, townhouse or have limited space, a bokashi compost bin or Subpod compost bin could be for you.
If you have a large backyard and a lot of organic waste, a traditional backyard compost or tumbler compost may work best.
If you have space, want to speed up the composting process and love seeing worms do their thing, then a vermicompost could suit you.

Home Compost Bin Options

Different Types of Compost Bins (and How To Choose One)