Compost bins

Of all the jobs to do this month, composting is one of the most important. Recycling our garden waste is the powerhouse behind a successful garden or allotment, returning valuable nutrients and organic matter back to the soil and boosting biodiversity. Having the right bin (or bins) can make a huge difference to the quality and speed of your compost. While a simple pile of garden waste will eventually rot down, it takes a long time, occupies lots of space and looks unsightly. Composting in bins keeps your waste neatly contained and sited discreetly, and rots it down much faster by retaining warmth and moisture.

There is an extensive range of compost bins, with price tags to suit every budget – some are designed to compost cooked food, meat and fish, so you can make every scrap of waste work for you.

How we tested

The bins were set up last summer, assembled and sited according to instructions, and assessed over every