Home-made Composter and Water butt

redser7

Hi,
Does anyone know where I could get old-fashioned plastic rubbish bins? I want to flip one over and cut the top out to make a composter and also one for a water butt. Figure it would be cheaper than store-bought composters and water butts. Have checked DIY and garden centres but no joy! Or large barrels?
Thanks a lot for any tips!

secman

Having spoken to many people who purchased the 70 litre water butts, they are far too small. One person I know has to empty their one the night before heavy rain is forecast ! Then it empties far too fast during a drought period !

I intend putting in a 1300 litre plastic oil tank behind the garage when the time comes to install one, your only man !

Secman

paddy147

secman wrote: »

I intend putting in a 1300 litre plastic oil tank behind the garage when the time comes to install one, your only man !

Secman

I hope that its a brand new UNUSED tank,as you cannot use a used oil tank as no matter how well you clean it,it will still be contaminated with oil and you cannot use that to water plants or veg.You are also contaminating and poluting the soil too.

John mac

I got a 1000L tank from the local builder (used for water)

its a white one in a cage. has a 3" ball valve at the bottom .
so a blank cap with a tank connector and hose connector and bobs your auntie

I built up a platform so the top is just below the level of the gutter on the garage, and outlet is about 1.7M off the ground.

diverted the 2 gutters to it .

most local authorities do a composter for €25 ish

Qwerty?

I am also using a 1000L IBC tank.

Finally got around to connecting it up the day before yesterday and have 900L in it this morning. I bought it for €90, but saw some on adverts a week later for €35-€45 I think, can't find them now thou. BTW new oil tanks are extremely expensive.

secman

I take your point about a new oil tank costing more, but I think that being green in colour that they will not stand out as much as a white tank. Anyways the main idea is to get a decent volume of water in a butt. My main point is that the DIY ones holding 70- 100 litres are of no real use.

Secman

skywalker_208

John mac wrote: »

I got a 1000L tank from the local builder (used for water)

its a white one in a cage. has a 3" ball valve at the bottom .
so a blank cap with a tank connector and hose connector and bobs your auntie

had one of these while building my house. Think there was sugary stuff/mollasses in it? Was a bit of brown stuff in the bottom anyway that had to be cleaned out before use.

I wonder if this can be used for garden water....

kylith

If you'll collect from Dublin 8 you can have my compost bin for free.

ETA: it's one like this: http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/images/compost_bin_plastic_mine.jpg

redser7

kylith, that's a very generous offer, thanks a million! D8, that's around Phoenix park/Kilmainham area, right? Would you be about at the weekend?
And thanks for the other replies ...

Qwerty?

skywalker_208 wrote: »

had one of these while building my house. Think there was sugary stuff/mollasses in it? Was a bit of brown stuff in the bottom anyway that had to be cleaned out before use.

I wonder if this can be used for garden water....

It should state that they were used for 'Foodstuffs only' or something like that. I just gave it a good wash out. Smelt very Hobs like (beer type smell) but didn't bother tasting it:P

Some pressure/volume out of it 900L, fills a watering can in a few seconds.

BTW does anyone know where to get attachments to the 50mm threaded nozzle? Nevermind found them on Donedeal. Loads of IBC tanks there for sale too.

John mac

i used about 200L today on the tunnel. :eek:

kylith

redser7 wrote: »

kylith, that's a very generous offer, thanks a million! D8, that's around Phoenix park/Kilmainham area, right? Would you be about at the weekend?
And thanks for the other replies ...

PM'd you.