Making a compost bin from pallets

To get started

You will need to (legitimately) get your hands on 4 pallets.  You can use any scrap wood but pallets are just perfect shape and size and are normally available free if you ask nicely from the back of large stores / warehouses who are more than happy to have a free recycling collection rather than have to pay to dispose of them.

At its most basic you can literally tie the 4 pallets together with string or garden wire and you're away (see this video of how to do that) but assuming you have some basic DIY skills I've included instructions for how to make a really good job of it below.

Step 1 - Clear the ground

 Pick a nice spot in the garden and clear the area where you're going to put the compost bin and, if necessary, level the ground using a spade.  

Step 2 - Secure to the ground

 Take a pallet and stand it on its long edge to form the back edge of the compost bin. I recommend you just push a stake through the two layers of the pallet at either end, using a sledgehammer to drive them firmly into the ground - about 20-30cm deep.

Step 3 - Repeat step 2

  Position the remaining two pallets at right angles to the first to make the sides, butting the corners tightly together to stop compost spilling through the gaps. Fix in place with stakes in each corner, as in step 2.

Step 4 - Tie it up

  To keep the structure stable, wire the pallets together at each corner.  If you want to do a really tidy job, trim the tops off the stakes with a saw.

Step 5 - Make a front door

  Wire the last pallet onto the front of the right side pallet to make a "gate". You'll need to open it when you want to get to the compost - and start filling your bin with garden and kitchen waste.