Huge fail on trash can composting- trash can composting update

In today’s video I’m gonna be showing you the two trash can bins for composting and within this video the second trash can bin looks really good while the first trash can bin looks pretty sad because I didn’t realize how dry the first compost bin was, I think it was because there was a huge amount of wood chips and I can see those wood chips still haven’t broken down at all within the 6 months, so now with that old compost I used a little bit on the second compost bin and the rest of it went to another trash can compost bin and not only a compost bin but a worm trash can bin hopefully it all works out. Thank you guys for watching todays video if you enjoyed today’s video then please leave a like comment and subscribe

[@stevekent3991]

You don’t have composters going on there, you have a storage for domestic trash. Composting works well if you use mainly garden waste so there is a good mix of natural greens and browns which are already inoculated with microorganisms etc. if you mainly wish to compost kitchen waste and shredded paper, you are right about going down the worm bin route. Look up horizontal migration worm bins. They would work quite well with kitchen waste and shredded paper. Cold composting which is what it looks like you were trying to do takes over a year, not months. Even though you are using trash cans, it’s not obviously no turn. You could be forking the contents of one trash can to an empty trash can, get a staging system going. It’s a learning curve and a fun journey. My first compost pile was a soggy mess full of flies, now I love composting and wish I had started sooner.

[@Itried20takennames]

It takes some practice and the right location. And limit the kitchen scraps, or take extra precautions, if in an ant or rodent heavy area….they will want in. Can try more dry and green yard clippings instead.

[@kevinvictoria3957]

Bro, my compost took off in only 3 weeks. Here is what I noticed that you are missing/ did wrong. First take those plates out of there. The only cardboard you should have is the one where there is like little waves between the two papers, this type of cardboard will provide a lot of air which will keep your compost from being to wet. I noticed you had like almost no Nitrogen/ Green material. Try to keep the materials 50/50 Carbon to Nitrogen. Also those cornstocks are literally useless since they provide no moisture. Try to put greens in their that are mostly made out of water, like Melons, Squash, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Cabbage, leafy greens. Just add more greens thats whats missing. Then Water, move the compost around for more air, and let it sit for 3 days, do this every 3 days.

[@AJsGreenTopics]

The comment was made about having large pieces of material and air flow. One a positive note is that you are composting. Great job.

[@joannhh]

It would break down faster if you break apart the material (large leaves & branches, paper plates, egg carton). I think you could add some holes all around the sides of the garbage can for air too.

[@tonythegardener96]

I have holes on the side of trash can I think it didn’t breakdown because of how little water I added after I was done filling it up, but thank you for the information I could break down the material a little better

[@dakotagarcia3772]

Yeah, remember certain materials are going to need a lot more water when you use them in compost. Anything thats intentionally dehydrated meeds to be rehydrated. Think seasoned wood, sawdust, paper, cardboard, summer lawn clippings (these will always need water to be compost ready). Things that should be mostly hydrated are the fresh kitchen scraps, and wet grass clipping like if you mow asap after it rains. If I expect rain I'll uncover my compost but doing this can matte the pile and deprive it of oxygen.

[@ahealthkit2745]

@@tonythegardener96 Those 'recyclable materials' containers definitely need to be torn up, I've had a few sit in my compost pile for months without actually breaking down until I decided to start ripping them up!

[@KarlafromOZ]

Nooo, don't put meat or seafood in compost, it will attract rodent's, use eggshells ect for calcium, or some people use a sprinkle of cheap powdered milk. Break everything down to smaller pieces as well, it will break down a bit quicker, need to put lots of holes in the bins as well, air and critters can get in :) It's great that you are doing it, i'm trying to start as well, but i've watched Alot of video's on how to compost, and learned alot from this, education is the key. GOOD LUCK dude

[@Followthemoney100]

First off your not breaking your compost down way to much paper

[@carlacrawford9322]

You need four rows of vertical holes at 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock. The holes need to be about 7/8 inch big and you only need 5 in each row. I see you have tiny vertical holes. No styrofoam plates or bowls.

[@tonythegardener96]

Lol don’t worry I’ll never put styrofoam

[@richardmeyer4406]

Nothing makes sense to me what you are doing . I have four trash cans . holes in the center of the bottom covered from the inside with fly screens in the top Leeds are very fine air holes . Than I’ve put everything on bricks and an window cleaning bucket underneath. The trash can is filled with worms . In two years I got enough worms to make every 3 to 5 month about 60 kg very good worm compost . Yes it’s work to seperate the worm casting from the worms .Once a week I poor 10 litre of water each one trough it . That is now my very cheap worm farm. I have made compost for over 30 years now in every way and came to the conclusion that it’s not as good as people tell you. As a friend of permaculture. Tell me where you find it in Nature.? Mulch yes . But big rotting heaps No . If you dig it in that is like an rotting tree stump or roots from a plant . That brings a lot of activity to the soil which is needed . I can not see the big improvement with vegetable plant if you put compost a ready product around plant . But if you dig kitchen waist in the garden worms will come in masses to eat it . That similar to a worm farm . I’ve learned the hard way if you want success in the Garden you have to copy nature and let nature do the work to build up an echo system Hope that helps you. In Summer i cover the trash cans with an shade cloth . Australia can be hot .

[@tonythegardener96]

Yeah since the last video I made I realized the same thing, I still compost in trash cans to get rid of excess waste, instead of the land fill I didn’t intend to use it as a worm composter, because like Australia here in the California desert it gets extremely hot so maybe in the future I’ll also try a shade cloth and hopefully the worms won’t disappear then I could use that compost as a top dress or to make compost extra/tea there’s several different things I’m thinking about when it comes to making compost in the future but eventually something will workout for me like the need to water more since I tend to forget, but thank you for the comment and hopefully I’ll see you in future videos

[@richardmeyer4406]

@@tonythegardener96 It’s good that we can help each other to reduce the rubbish to the land fill . A few things I want to mention . Use Doppel shade cloth . Build the trash can in a way the worms can’t escape to the the soil where it’s cooler . On very hot days you could put ice cubes on it and or poor the water a second time trough it to save water .. Everything should’ve in a shady corner .The bottom line for me is that our sheep, cow , chicken manure looks and smell all the same from the hardware shop. It’s heavy mixed with fine wood chips . The quality can’t be good. That’s why I’m interested to make my own worm castings. Even if it looks more like compost. An other interesting thing is that I dug in a bucket with fish guts etc. From the fish shop with water to make my own fish fertiliser.. But that is an big learning experience

[@merrylchristopher4522]

I do trash can composting and it takes months. I have larger holes than yours all around the can and I thoroughly wet the entire contents. I then put the top and bungee cord it place and lay it on the side. I also have holes on the bottom. I then roll the can to simulate turning it. When it rains the contents also get wet so I don’t have to worry. Even with all that it takes a while.

[@tonythegardener96]

Yeah trash can composting in general takes a while

[@Robr1701]

As has been commented already, more holes around the bottom of the bins and use lots more greens and even a handful of garden soil with each layer, that will have the microbes, bugs and even worms that will help kick-start the composting.

[@carlacrawford9322]

You need 2" holes in the bottom to allow microbes and worms to get in.

[@fionafresh8435]

The most refreshingly, honest video I’ve seen on KZbin in ages.

[@michaelwilkins9416]

Should've filled with water til it was coming out of the holes, then water every week.

[@garyrock2356]

I start the composting inside the house. The bin has a foot pedal. I put shredded paper in the bottom, to start, which absorbs juices as you go on putting kitchen scraps in the bin. Every so often put another layer of shredded paper to prevent smells. The paper plates you had should have been torn up to make composting quicker. The smaller stuff is, the better. The composting process requires sufficient moisture and air, if it dries, composting ceases until more moisture is available.

[@JoseLopez-cz3kc]

I noticed U use used tamales, leaves? If U don't mind me asking do they have Nitrogen & what kind of Nutrients? U also can use more holes around U'r can 4 more, air. Happy gardening & keep, rocking!

[@FengChengNanEr-o7q]

Use a blender to cut all your kitchen scraps into smaller pieces. Don’t put anything salty into your compost.

[@niceboy761]

Cut the bottom off 1 bin bury an inch in ground start filling with scraps the worms will come up through the soil no collection of worms needed just keep turning the content as you don't want it matting together

[@scottmason229]

Finer shreading and nice size holes has has been already said. You definitely need those worms to get it mate, they do mamouth work.

[@SaraHartman09]

Was always told there are living organisms in the compost and needs to stay moist I water every other day….

[@abundantlyinspired]

Doesn't white paper have bleach in it??🤔Just wondering, I have never made my own compost so I don't have any expertise.

[@tonythegardener96]

I’m sure it does, but sometimes you gotta use the stuff that you have. If you’re really worried try to use more cardboard material or non white bleached material

[@abundantlyinspired]

@@tonythegardener96 Okay, thank you!!!☺️

[@dalebailey754]

I agree about more holes along the bottom and sides, and I would have given each layer a spray with the water hose and nozzle. Excess water should be able to escape from the holes.

[@roncatlin7271]

what a learning opportunity. we've all had them. if you're going for fungal innoculated compost your should be putting your wood chips into a cold pile or bin and keep them out of your hot bin. the wood is stealing nitrogen, thereby heat, from your other composting material which is probably contributing to your lack of decomposition in addition to the lack of water. i'm going to start a cold bin this fall after all the leaves are raked. another aid to the lack of decomposition is the size of your material. those egg cartons & paper plates need to be tore up into much smaller pieces and you're missing air. in my trash cans (20 gal) i have aproximately 50 1/2" holes sides and bottom in an octogon pattern with none in the top to keep the elements out after i had a problem with too much rain and all the 'good stuff' getting washed out. i have a series of 8. 1 for each month of 6, 1 with finished compost & 1 for mixing & stirring. i have finished product at ambient temperatures usually in 4 1/2 months. no turn is going to take much longer and without air it's going to go anaerobic on you and it's going to get very messy. also, when you add moisture try adding some molasses, maple syrup or soda pop. i've even used sugar in a pinch. adding sweet to your water will make your microbes more active which in turn will make your worms happy if you've got any in your bins. you also might try sweet watering the ground your bins sit on to attract some worms. i check the temps of my bins frequently - daily during growing season when i water - and if that temp is below 100 i move it into my empty bin giving it a stir & relayering adding sweet water to feed the microbes and moisten the compost material along with alfalfa pellets for heat. alfalfa pellets is probably the best thing you can add to compost that is cooling off to heat it up. you need moisture for the pellets to break down and go to work. one last note, add some finished compost to your bins to give the microbes a leg up. compost is living. water & nourishment is life. good luck bud.

[@tonythegardener96]

Thank you for the comment, in the future I will definitely try those sugar options and lately I’ve definitely been trying to use more shredded paper and cardboard and trying to make sure not to add to much water and putting to little it’s a hard balance to get right all I know is that recently it’s been looking a lot better then before. I probably should make an update video on it soon

[@roncatlin7271]

@@tonythegardener96 great !!! i had my share of set backs and made my share of mistakes when i first started composting. i think we all must graduate from the school of hard knocks before we fully understand and i can't tell you the number of times i messed up my worm bins before i got those right. wishing you much success !!! cheers !!!

[@tonythegardener96]

@@roncatlin7271 lmao eventually we all learn from our mistakes

[@mth4849]

It needs oxygen... put holes in the trash can.

[@tonythegardener96]

I already did

[@daltonbreaux]

Wet each layer as you add it. It’s much too dry. Also rip your cardboard into smaller pieces.

[@lonestarcj8132]

Try putting holes in the bottom of the containers to let worms in. I think you are too dry also. Maybe some bigger holes in the sides of the containers will provide more air.

[@jackbarr1124]

Far to few and two small holes dont let the air in, so it cant work.

[@tonythegardener96]

It worked before, I just messed up by putting to much wood chips and not enough water or green material

[@roncatlin7271]

given enough time everything will decompose. it just depends on how fast you want it to decompose.

[@RangoTheBubble]

Oh my god thats alot of paper

[@tonythegardener96]

Lol I know it’s actually not to bad since paper breaks down a lot easier

[@SsDiBoi]

Bury sum red wigglers n strick em in there it looks dry maybe to many holes

[@flamingdonut9456]

Unlucky, mate. Trying my own compost, mostly kitchen scraps, cats and shredded paper. Using old compost bags. Seems to be working, but taking months. Hopefully warmer weather will help. Good to see you haven't given up. 👍

[@GLG_YT]

Cats…

[@flamingdonut9456]

@@GLG_YT 🤣 Didn't pick up on that! Think it was meant to say "card". Don't worry, no cats at all!

[@GLG_YT]

@@flamingdonut9456 ok lol 😂

[@ahealthkit2745]

Turning the compost over frequently can help, recommend less cats and more grass.

[@snuffoutrouge5109]

road kill works well they use it in USA to make compost - this would be better than cats.

[@gracieshomeandgardens5089]

How long does it takes to breakdown and in this trashcan to Harvest?

[@tonythegardener96]

About 6 months to a year it’s a slow breakdown

[@samidaher6458]

thanks for sharing.