HOTBIN ANYBODY?

I'm considering buying a Hotbin - the smallest size (100l) - and just wanting some advice. Are they worth it? Our current system is taking such a LONG time to get going.

 

I was thinking of buying one and all the reports said they work well but do not put any food waste in as the down side is foxes, rats etc chew the sides to get at the food. Bought a garden shed instead.

 

Thanks for the info @waterbut , need to bear that in mind.

 

@waterbut what do you mean by food waste? A former colleague of mine, vegan, put all their kitchen waste in their hotbin with no problem.
It heated up quickly, but needed regular inputs.

 

I was wondering whether it’s only animal-based food that’s a problem @waterbut @NigelJ

 

I would never put meat or bread for that matter into a compost heap, the same goes for a hotbin, but I would read the manufacturers instructions for definitive guidance.

 

I never had a hotbin (no problem with my slower compost system) but I think the general rule for compost would apply. Raw fruit/veg like peelings & cores, the odd soggy grape or end of a cucumber etc is OK but cooked food of any sort, no. Sure some raw veg bits can attract some kinds of unwanted attention, but that's a chance I take. I'm not going to bother separating out different kinds of peelings etc.

 

I have two, side by side, so I can fill one, and turn it into the empty one, and repeat. NO COOKED FOOD and no meats or breads, or you'll get rats. Veg and fruit peelings, coffee grounds, tea leaves ( not the bags, - microplastics and they'll never rot down ) , eggshells, spent flowerheads and stalks, a sprinkle of grass if you have a lawn, shredded paper or card....the secret is in getting the mixture balanced, not too much of any one component. Not too many woody twigs or bagsfull of autumn leaves! Don't tip your whole lawnmower grass box contents in when it's full, for example. And then turn everything - once or twice during the season should be enough to aerate everything. My bins are full of lovely little red brandling worms, so they do most of the work for me.

 

OK let’s just say do not put anything in that foxes, rats etc like. If anyone does not know what they do like use your search engine.

 

I use a Green Johanna, which is described as a hot composter. You're supposed to be able to put all food waste in, but I don't - like the others here it's just kitchen scraps, paper and cardboard and some garden waste. You can buy a foam insulating cover but that has given me problems - the worms get too hot and wiggle out of the ventilation holes and down behind the foam, and the foxes smell them and dig like mad to get them. So the cover is pretty much destroyed now. Other than that it's great, makes really good compost and is quick enough for me - I never manage to fill it right up because it all shrinks down so quickly.

 

Thanks @Escarpment , will look that up

 

I find it a little bit of a pain, personally. The ratio of green/brown/twiggy material has to be just right or it stinks to high heaven. And the bottom compartment has a tendency to fall off if its over full.

I find emptying it pretty unpleasant, but that may be because my ratios aren't quite right, and I am quite sensitive to strong smells. First batch was wonderful, subsequent ones grim but I think I needed to replace the twiggy material at the bottom as it hasn't been so bad recently.

On the plus side, it provides pretty usable mulch (rather than compost, maybe you have to be more specific in what you put in) quite quickly. I just don't particularly like emptying it.