Introduction: Composter With Recycled Materials

First of all we need to know what a composter is. Well, this ‘machine’ converts the skins and rests of our vegetables, in compost, which will be used in the future to help plants grow.

Step 1: Let’s Talk About What We Need

Here is a list of all the materials that we are going to use in order to build this recycled compost maker.

  • Four industrial pallets, those will be three of the walls and also the roof of the compost maker. (I went to a factory and they gave me without any problems).
  • Several woods, the length of those is a bit less than the side of the pallet. (I used a door frame, so.. feel free to take some wood that you’ve got around if you don’t want to buy it, it will work the same).
  • A drill, which will be great for screw the screws or attach the nails after. (I don’t have one, but it will help the wood does not break and also we won’t use as much strength).
  • Some screws or nails. (I used some nails, but you can use screws too).
  • Hammer or screwdriver.
  • A third person to hold the pallets while you put them together and to move them later if it is necessary.

Step 2: Attaching the First Two Pallets Together

Put two pallets like shown in the pictures and attach one to the other with screws/nails (consider using the help of a third person that will hold in place the pallets while you attach them), this will be the rear and the right side of our composter.

Before we continue, we are going to make sure it stays in place and we are going to attach a piece of wood, that will also help this union. We will put the piece of wood on top of them, just on the part that has more material, (just as we can see in the photo). This step can be made after the first step or second step, but not later (make sure they are well attached, this will provide safety when we continue).

Step 3: Third and Last Wall

Move another pallet to the other side, this will be the left side of our composter, making now a “U” shape as shown. After we’ve put it in place, with the help of a third person we do the same as we did on the first step and hold them together (remember putting the piece of wood as we mentioned it at the end of the first step).

Step 4: Let's Go for the Roof

Now we are ready to mount the roof of our composter. Take the fourth and last pallet and put it on top of the other three. Once you have the pallet on top of the others, attach it to all of them, so it will stay in place and wont fall while you’re throwing your compost in there.

Step 5: Setting Up the 'door'

We will put the bottom part of our door, and attach this wood to the sizes’ pallets, this will make the other pieces of wood don’t fall to the bottom and we will let us put one on top the others. After this we will mount the guides as shown, with a spacer on the bottom. This space will let the other pieces of wood that we will be able to move, go in and take them out.

This “door” will provide fresh air when we want it to go in, through that side, and it will let us put the vegetables without problems.

Step 6: Time to Make Compost

Time to make compost, first of all, we will put some dry leaves on the bottom, on top of them we will put our rests of vegetables, and on top of those we will put some manure, that will have some bacteria (if you don’t want to put manure, you can leave it or put worms, this will also make earthworm humus instead), on top of it we’ll put more dried leaves (you can water it a bit the first times, so it helps starting the process). Now you can add every now and then the rest of the vegetables that you don’t eat like shown, if you've got more, feel free to add it. And when you’ve lied them, remember to put some dry leaves on top of the vegetables, that will have the flies appart of the compost.

IMPORTANT. You can’t add cooked vegetables, and if you do, it won’t help on the compost production because flies will go as well and that’s not what we want.

Step 7: Thank You! (Any Vote? :D)

I hope this guide helps you, and I hope you've understood everything.

Consider voting me if you like it.

Thank you all :)

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