Types

• An enclosed bin is the most basic type of bin available. It is, essentially, a large garbage can with a lid. They are very low-cost and low-maintenance and the lid keeps the rain and pests out. However, without a turning mechanism it can take six months to two years for compost to be made.
  
  Homemade enclosure bins are usually made out of wood or a wood and wire fence combination. They generally are similar to an enclosed bin, but usually do not have a lid and have slats or wire fencing for aeration. They can be custom-made to fit in with a landscape.
  
  A rolling bin is a ball-like composter that you fill up and roll around every couple of days. It eliminates the need for aerating with a pitchfork and works well if you have a lot of space for rolling. It can become heavy, though, and therefore difficult to roll.
  
  A tumbler is a bin that is a bit like an enclosed bin, but turned on its side and suspended in a frame so that the gardener can slowly spin the contents. Tumblers have the quickest composting times, but once full, you cannot add more material to them.
  
  

Time Frame

• Decomposition of the organic waste into compost occurs most quickly at temperatures between 120 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Adding items that will "cook" the compost will help it decompose faster. Aerate your compost pile often. Chop and shred larger items (run your mower over leaves, for example). Add big piles of material at once rather than small ones. Keep your bin in the sun. Get your compost a head start by adding alfalfa, aged manure, blood meal or a commercial compost starter. These will all reduce the amount of time it takes to turn your waste material into usable compost.
  
  

Location

• Locate a compost bin on a level, well-drained spot in your backyard, if you have one. Keep your bin out of sight or "behind-the-scenes" to ensure good neighbor relations. Many people place their bin in an unused back corner of the yard, where there are no buildings and the air circulates well. Don't place the bin next to a building, especially if your bin is made of wood, because the wood may be encouraged to rot along with the compost.
  
  

Benefits

• A compost bin is beneficial to the home gardener because it keeps pests out of the compost, increases decomposition time and makes the composting area more attractive than if it were just in piles in the yard.
  
  

Downside

• Compost bins can start to smell, particularly in the middle of a hot summer. They can be expensive to purchase and may not hold all of the waste you are creating, increasing the need to purchase more than one bin. They are generally unattractive, so if that is important to you in your garden, you may want to build one rather than purchase one, to fit into your landscape.