The container you use for worm composting can greatly impact how you feed your worms and how you harvest the compost. Thankfully many people who get started in vermicomposting use items they already have on hand. Upcycling items you already have prevents items from going to the landfill and helps you reduce your environmental footprint.
Common Composting Worm Containers
Many like to upcycle common items for their compost bin. Common upcycled containers include Rubbermaid containers, kitty litter buckets, and restaurant busing buckets.
Honestly, you are just looking for an item with a few of the following criteria:
- Opaque
- Has a lid – or you can make a lid
- It didn’t previously contain poison
I’ve seen people use gallon ice cream buckets to make a flow-through worm composting system. What you choose is up to your imagination. You want to make sure it is clean and free of chemicals.
Pre-Made Vermicomposting Containers
Some of the most popular pre-made bins are in the style of “flow-through.”
The benefit of flow-through bins how easy it is to harvest the compost and manage leachate.
In a flow-through system, to harvest the compost, you simply need to remove the layer on the bottom. Simply empty the nutrient-rich compost into a bin, and place that try on the top.
This is because, in flow-through systems, worms are constantly traveling to the top to get fresh food scraps.
Another benefit of a premade system is that many of them have a clean way to deal with leachate. Leachate is the liquid created during the decomposition process. It can be poisonous to your worms if you do not moderate it with dry bedding or drainage.
The Best Container For You
While there are many benefits to pre-made bins, you can often recreate these with upcycled materials. The best container for you really depends on what you’re looking for. Do-it-Yourself methods prevent items from going in the landfill, and pre-made bins make it easy to get started.
The most important thing is that you just get started- so pick whichever method works best for you and your lifestyle.
