When trying to choose a compost bin as our best overall, we decided that it should be a good all-rounder, and something that would suit the majority of people here in the UK. The 4smile compost bin is made from recycled plastic and all the pieces slot together without the need for tools. The neutral colour scheme and square shape of this model allow it to fit neatly and discretely in the corner of your yard.

300L Outdoor Compost Bin Eco Friendly Denny International® 300L Outdoor Compost Bin Eco Friendly

On the plus side, the dual compartments mean that you can have 2 batches of compost on the go at different stages of decomposition, which can come in very handy for certain purposes. However, I have to add that this super fast production of compost only happened during spells of warm to hot weather, and when the temperatures dropped, there wasn’t any real difference between this bin and any of the others.Lastly, worms and other certain creatures play an important part in creating compost, so setting up your bin directly on the soil is always better than on concrete. If you’re tackling your garden for the first time, you will probably find that the newly dug up soil needs improving upon and compost is just the material for the job. Meat and dairy are sure-fire rodent attractors, so you should always avoid putting these things in your bin. What’s more, that roof makes it easy to access the contents for mixing and there’s also a removable section low down on the bin where you can pop a garden fork in.

300L Outdoor Garden Compost Bin Eco Friendly Organic Waste 300L Outdoor Garden Compost Bin Eco Friendly Organic Waste

What really impresses is that even though the wooden bin comes flat-packed, you don’t need any tools to assemble it.

The downsides to hot composters are that they are more expensive, need to be turned over more often, and it takes time to get used to using them and produce the required results. For instance, there are little plastic feet for the bottom tray to sit in that are designed to trap ants, and the ‘M-board’ that’ll prevent the tray bedding from dropping into the liquid and also help with ventilation.

Compost Waste Bin 300L Eco SAKUSEI 300 Litre Outdoor Garden Compost Waste Bin 300L Eco

If you’re just starting out your journey towards reducing your carbon footprint, then the Whitefurze 220L Compost Bin is the ideal option for first timers. There’s no struggling to get your tools in there, or having to unclip hatches or sections of the bin, all you need to do is spin the barrel around 6-7 times and you’re good for a few days. Planting mint nearby is also a possible rat deterrent – rats and mice apparently don’t like the smell, so it is definitely worth placing a plant or two near your bin. Meat and meat products, fish, leftovers, bread, cheese rind, bones, sick plant parts, ashes from coal and barbecue coal, cigarettes, vacuum cleaner bags, street rubbish. Not much to say except this composter came 5 days earlier than expected (good) and was incredibly easy to snap together, though the lid hinges did need a good solid clout to get them united.With a robust, sectional design and made from thick recycled plastic, this bin is easy to access thanks to a wide hinged lid. The bin holds heat well too, and there are multiple vents for airflow and also drainage points for excess water. A solid compost bin is better at keeping rats out than a pile, so if you have a problem with rats in your pile then consider moving it all into a bin. They are very easy to use, requiring only that you fill the trays with the right material and add the worms.