Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Green bin full of compost and water

helenp14helenp14 Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Help! My husband put compost from an old planter in our green bin without thinking, there is no lid on the bin, it rained and now we have a very heavy, stinky and sludgy mess. Any suggestions what to do? We only have a paved yard no flower beds, just planters and pots... we’ve  drained as much water as we can but it’s still too heavy to move.
«1

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    All I can think of is to tip it out, spread it out to dry in the sun and then sweep it up. We're not allowed to dispose of compost/soil in our garden waste bins here, so you might want to check your rules before you put the dried compost back in. And maybe ask about getting a new lid because without one it's just going to gather more water every time it rains.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Chris-P-BaconChris-P-Bacon Posts: 943
    Hope for warm weather or put very dry material in it in the hope it soaks it up.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    JennyJ said:
    All I can think of is to tip it out, spread it out to dry in the sun and then sweep it up. We're not allowed to dispose of compost/soil in our garden waste bins here, so you might want to check your rules before you put the dried compost back in. And maybe ask about getting a new lid because without one it's just going to gather more water every time it rains.

    The rules about not putting compost/soil in the garden waste recycling are the same here.  The restriction seems utterly non-sensical as the green waste is used to make compost.  I have to confess I get round it by putting any spent compost in first and then filling with grass etc.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Yes, tip it. Get a shovel, scrape it out.
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    Could you make a few drainage holes at the bottom?
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    KT53 said:

    The rules about not putting compost/soil in the garden waste recycling are the same here.  The restriction seems utterly non-sensical as the green waste is used to make compost. 
    I guess it's impractical. Whole bins full of soil are very heavy for the staff to drag and lift up steps. People would fill them with gravel and bits of cement and all sorts.

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    How can you have a green bin without a lid? I've never seen one. If you mean it used to have a lid but got torn off by the lorry apparatus (it happened to one of ours) you can ask for a new one without charge. 
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • helenp14helenp14 Posts: 4
    JennyJ said:
    All I can think of is to tip it out, spread it out to dry in the sun and then sweep it up. We're not allowed to dispose of compost/soil in our garden waste bins here, so you might want to check your rules before you put the dried compost back in. And maybe ask about getting a new lid because without one it's just going to gather more water every time it rains.
    Thanks Jenny, I drilled some holes in the bottom and drained the water and made a makeshift lid. I now have a brand new green bin that was delivered today, maybe I'll use the old one as my compost bin! :smile:
  • helenp14helenp14 Posts: 4
    madpenguin said:
    Could you make a few drainage holes at the bottom?
    Great idea - why didn't I think of that :smile:. it worked a treat, thank you! 
  • helenp14helenp14 Posts: 4
    Lizzie27 said:
    How can you have a green bin without a lid? I've never seen one. If you mean it used to have a lid but got torn off by the lorry apparatus (it happened to one of ours) you can ask for a new one without charge. 
    It was lidless when we moved in - all sorted now ordered a new one from the council and arrived within a few days! Thank you :smile:
Sign In or Register to comment.