Turning trash into veggies has a certain appeal, to say the least. All you need is a lot of brown materials (leaves, sawdust, vegetable stalks), together with a lot of green materials (grass clippings, vegetable scraps, garden trash), to start a compost pile. This keeps everything moist albeit not too wet, which helps you to get started. 

Sounds easy, doesn’t it? To be fair, it is. But it doesn’t take place over the course of a day.

Compost bins assist to shorten the time that it takes for materials to decompose, decreasing the timeframe from many years to a single season or fewer.

Designed to help you create compost more effectively, composters are available in a wide range of forms and sizes. Your new bins can not only look wonderful, but they also speed up the decomposition process. When you break down your waste faster, you provide more organic matter for your garden, which benefits your plants as well as the environment. And best of all composting may decrease trash transported to landfills by up to 24 percent.

So you want to get started composting but you lack the time or patience to design a compost bin or don’t know which bin to buy. Don’t worry our BEST outdoor compost bins in NZ article is here to help!

See also:

The 6 BEST Compost Bins NZ

1Kozyard Dual Tumbler Composter

Price: $139
Key specs: Type: Batch (Tumbler) | 160L capacity

Pros

  • BPA free
  • Twin chamber design for continuous composting
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Only 160L capacity

This 160-litre capacity batch composter is ideal for most homes.

It’s rodent-proof, BPA-free, and ready for all kinds of weather. Adding fresh scraps to your composter is made simple by the barrel’s simplicity.

It features a powder-coated steel frame and is designed to endure, making it simple to build.

What sets it apart from other similar compost makers is the twin chamber design, which means that once you get started, you’ll be consistently provided with nutrient-rich compost for your garden. Once the first chamber is filled, add to the opposite side. It gives the first side the opportunity to grow and develop completely and you can immediately start composting on the other side.

Buy now for $139 from Amazon.com.au

2Aerated Compost Bin

Price: $199
Key specs: Type: Continuous (stationary) | 435L capacity

Pros

  • Made from recycled plastic
  • Easy to assemble
  • Hassle-free composting

Cons

  • Not maneuverable

The Aerated Compost Bin makes it easy to recycle and compost your food scraps.

The top lid and doors provide easy access, while the snap-lock bottom doors keep pests out.

Air vents ensure that your compost stays aerobic, while the durable and weather-proof construction means this bin can go outside or inside.

Made of 90% recycled plastic, this bin is good for the environment, easy to use and very efficient.

Buy now for $199 from TradeTested.co.nz

3SQUEEZE Master XXL Large Compost Bin

Price: $250
Key specs: Type: Continuous (Stationary) | 720L capacity

Pros

  • Massive capacity
  • Easy to assemble
  • Hassle-free composting

Cons

  • Need a large space to place the bin

This is a fantastic choice if you are searching for a stationary compost bin with a large capacity.

It’s made from high-quality BPA-free plastic and has a capacity for 720 litres of organic materials.

Assembly is straightforward due to the tool-free assembly and the finished bin weighs 10.2kgs.

In order to guarantee fast composting, the bin has a ventilation system with efficient airflow.

While it is expensive, the Squeeze Master XXL is a big compost bin and you’ll never have to worry about your compost, just chuck it in there and you’re done.

Buy now for $250 from Amazon.com.au

4Full Circle Odor Free Countertop Compost Collector

Price: $80
Key specs: 57L capacity | Type: Indoor

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Can be easily placed inside
  • Steel material is sturdy

Cons

  • 57L might not be enough for a larger family
  • Cannot go outdoors

The Full Circle Odor Free CounterTop Compost Collector looks really elegant, and it matches any kitchen décor.

It has a huge 57 litre capacity, which is more than enough for most families.

Incorporating steel and recyclable plastic and using a high-performance charcoal filter, this product is very sturdy and holds up well to the elements.

The wire frame is another neat feature because it prevents spillage and keeps your composter neat and tidy.

Buy now for $80 from Living Style (via TheMarket.com)

5Hungry Bin Worm Farm

Price: $325
Key specs: Type: Worm Farm | Processes 2KG worth of compost a day

Pros

  • Extremely efficient composting
  • Great capacity
  • Solid build
  • Maneuverability

Cons

  • Requires more maintenance than other bins
  • Expensive

There are no other bins like the Hungry Bin Worm Farm. It encourages the population of compost worms to grow and flourish.

In addition to producing high-quality fertiliser, the worms produce a rich liquid and fine black earth known as worm castings.

This vessel lets the liquid drain out of the bin and onto a tray located below it.

Tapered bins act as the vessel of sorts, squeezing the parts to urge the worms to go to the top layer, where they may feed on new food.

Handling is simple and you can easily collect both the moulds and the juice from the hungry bin, the whole procedure is very easy.

Buy now for $325 from Trade Tested (via TheMarket.com)

6Joraform ‘Big Pig’ Rotational Composter


Price: $875
Key specs: Type: Batch (tumbler) | 270L capacity

Pros

  • Extremely well-made
  • Twin chamber design for continuous composting
  • Efficient composting

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Heavy

If you’re looking for a premium composter then this is it. The Joraform Big Pig is perfect for keeping up with a lot of yard waste.

It holds up to 270 litres of various biodegradable materials such as food scraps, sawdust, dry grass, pet droppings, and is ideal for garden and vegetable waste. Every week, the system handles around 25 to 30 litres of waste.

The two chambers of the Joraform Composter let you use and make compost at the same time. With the Big Pig Composting is simple and easy, thanks to high-quality components and unique design elements.

To treat organic waste more efficiently, the Joraform Big Pig Composter is insulated to enable temperatures to increase quicker.

Buy now for $875 from Vitality4Life.co.nz

Compost Bin Buyers Guide

We’ve come a long way from backyard compost heaps. Today’s gardeners are capable of composting more efficiently and effortlessly using compost bins, or composters as some people call them.

Use this guide to choose which kind of bin best suits your needs:

Things to consider when choosing a compost bin:

  • What are you going to compost?

What you compost depends heavily on the kind and size of composter you use. You may be composting most of your kitchen food waste, for example. Or do you have a large lawn full of dry grass and weeds, as well as other trimmings from your shrubs and trees? This is important to consider when choosing a compost bin. IF you’re going to be composting a lot you’ll need a larger compost bin.

  • What are you going to do with your compost?

Composting to help cut down on food waste is common. Another purpose for compost is to fertilise lawns and gardens, since it is the best kind of fertiliser.

It’s important to know the difference. If you’re looking to compost and you’re in an apartment there are composters for that. Similarly there are specialised composters for fertilising gardens and lawns.

  • Where are you going to set up your compost bin?

Composting does not need a large amount of outside area, but if you are unable to locate any, this will effect your choice of composter.

If you live in an apartment or house with a balcony or garage, you should look for a composting system that is suitable for you. Some have the additional need for a bigger outside area.

It’s important to consider this when choosing a compost bin for you.

The best types of compost bins to buy in NZ?

When it comes to compost bins there are three main types:

  1. Continuous composters
  2. Batch composters
  3. Indoor composters (including worm composters)
  • Continuous/Stationary composters

Continuous composters serve a range of needs, from leftovers from the kitchen to yard trash.

You can continuously add stuff since it is a “continuous” process. Compost is produced at a moderate pace.

The completed compost tends to filter to the bottom of the bin and will need to be emptied a couple of times a year. Rats and other pests cannot get in, since the containers are sealed with lids.

Good For: If you wish to dump food leftovers, garden weeds, and some yard trash, this is the right disposal for you.

  • Batch/Tumbler composters

With their combination of tumbling motion and a circulation system, batch composters are compost-accelerating machines.

A balanced combination of components can be added to the mix, and the mixture is cooked until done, which may take from four to eight weeks.

Batch composters, as the name suggests, allow you to produce compost quickly. However, they must be rotated often to check for proper moisture.

While the current batch is cooking you need to collect the material for the next batch. An open bin, pile, or continuous composter may all serve as a stockpile.

Good for: Gardeners who wish to get compost quickly. Be wary that this requires more planning and effort though.

  • Indoor composters

Indoors composting is feasible but on a lesser scale. It’s possible to convert kitchen wastes into compost for houseplants and the garden using composters and worm bins inside.

Good for: Those who wish to compost kitchen trash because it’s accessible.

Reece Bates, is an outdoors journalist with a knack for capturing the heart of every adventure. Whether he's weaving tales from hidden trails or offering insights into the beauty of the natural world.