Pros and Cons of No Bin Composting

No bin composting generally involves a large pile of organic matter or a pit filled with organic matter and covered with dirt. This is the cheapest and easiest method for composting, but is it for you? Here are the advantages and disadvantages of going with no bin composting so you can decide if these methods are for you.

Pros

If you want to get started composting but are unsure that it will be something you want to continue with this is a great way to start. It costs nothing to pile up your organic waste in a large pile, or dig a hole and fill it up. By starting with no bin composting you can decide if you might want to later upgrade to a container.

If you want to compost where you plan to plant later, this method will save you from transporting your finished compost to where you want to use t. It will also save you hauling containers around your property ever year.

If your ground is easy to dig then trench or pit composting is a viable option.

If you plan on using many kitchen scraps without using a container pit or trench composting can help keep the pests and critters away.

If you have a lot of yard space then freestanding piles or pits are fine. It also helps if you are lacking neighbors to watching in dismay as you haul around mounds of what they might deem trash.

If you have a great deal of organic waste to deal with then you might want to try working with several smaller freestanding piles, to save lugging material all over your lawn. These rows of smaller piles are called windrows; they were originally used by farmers to process animal waste and crop residue in long narrow rows.

Cons

If your ground is hard, compact or rocky then pit or trench composting would be a tough option, and one I would not suggest.

No matter how hard you try to keep a no bin compost pile neat and tidy there is little you can do to keep wildlife away.  Freestanding piles can easily become a target for raccoons, area pets, foxes, rodents and other wildlife looking for a tasty snack.

Compost piles are rarely pretty to look at, unless you find the scenery of piles of organic waste shrinking down into rich brown compost. While it does have its own beauty, it is rarely a sight people want to enjoy.