"In my more than thirty years as a garden journalist, I have never come across a compost bin like this."
I have always been an enthusiastic gardener and a keen composter. After all, why would you throw away waste that can be turned into valuable compost for use in the garden? It also saves money on buying bags of soil conditioner!
For the past four years, I have had my HOTBIN compost bin in constant use, recycling every bit of my compostable kitchen waste. Hot composting really makes sense, and I find it much faster and more efficient than my other ‘cold compost bins’.
During my more than 30 years as a garden journalist, I have never come across such a compost bin. Traditional bins made of wood exist, as do those made of recycled plastic, but the unique polypropylene design and construction of the HOTBIN, with its excellent heat-insulating properties, ensure that hot composting can take place all year round.
Even in the depths of winter, the contents of my bin remain warm enough for bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms to keep working. When there is frost on the ground, it is a reassurance when I open my HOTBIN and see the clouds of steam rising into the air.
I regularly monitor the composting process on two thermometers – one in the lid and the other in the bin, with the sensor deep in the heart of the heap. Every few weeks I ‘boost’ the temperature by mixing in some grass clippings, and what a thrill it is to see the temperature rise to 65 °C.
What do I feed my compost bin?
What do I feed my HOTBIN? Well, almost everything from my kitchen that is compostable goes in. From fruit and vegetable peels to banana skins, tea bags to coffee grounds, and even crushed eggshells.
It is fine to wrap vegetable peels in a few sheets of newspaper before putting them in the bin. My local council does not take cardboard egg cartons in their green recycling bin, so I tear them into small pieces and mix them into my HOTBIN. Adding cardboard or crumpled paper keeps the contents aerated, and I often throw in a few handfuls of shredded paper, including my junk mail!
Small amounts of food scraps also occasionally get added, such as cooked rice or pasta, or leftovers of cooked vegetables or moldy bread. Garden waste is also allowed, especially weeds, soft prunings, and old cut flowers, which all rot quickly.
How do I use the HOTBIN compost?
Once the compost has built up in my HOTBIN, it is time to open the harvest hatch and harvest a few buckets full of beautiful compost. The top layers slowly sink due to their weight to create more room above, and the front panel can be repositioned and reattached.
With a garden fork, I spread this compost into borders to improve my soil, and throw a few handfuls into the holes before planting shrubs, bedding plants, and crops.
I have never noticed an unpleasant odor coming from my HOTBIN and have had no issues with pests either.
The HOTBIN has a large capacity of 200 liters, is robust, easy to use, and produces great compost quickly – perfect for an enthusiastic gardener like me.
About Adam Pasco:
Adam Pasco has been a leading garden journalist in Great Britain for over 30 years, during which he successfully launched and edited BBC Gardeners' World Magazine for 22 years. He now runs his own business, Adam Pasco Media, as a writer and content provider, lecturer, and consultant for clients in the horticultural sector.
He has been awarded 'Editor of the Year' twice by the British Society of Magazine Editors and was named 'Practical Journalist of the Year' by the Garden Media Guild.
Adam also broadcasts for World Radio Gardening, manages an impressive library of garden photos, and presents videos for gardening clients, including B&Q.
