Build a simple compost bin from four pallets in an afternoon, with a hinged front for easy access.
CB-01Choose and clear the sitePick a level spot with good drainage, part sun and part shade, and easy wheelbarrow access. Clear grass and weeds down to bare soil so worms and beetles can get in from below. Sitting the bin directly on soil (not paving) speeds up composting.
CB-02Source four matching palletsStandard pallets are about 800mm x 1200mm. Try to get four the same size from a garden centre, builders' merchant or pallet supplier — many give them away free if you ask. Check for a stamped 'HT' mark, meaning heat-treated; avoid any marked 'MB' (methyl bromide), which is a chemical treatment you don't want rotting down near food-growing soil.
CB-03Gather your tools and fixingsYou'll need a drill/driver, exterior wood screws, two gate hinges, a claw hammer, pliers, gloves and a spirit level. Buy screws long enough to bite through two overlapping pallet timbers without poking out the far side.
CB-04Check pallets for stray nails and rough edgesRun a gloved hand carefully over every board and check for protruding nails or staples. Hammer these flat or pull them out with pliers. Sand or plane off any sharp splinters, especially on edges you'll be handling regularly.
CB-05Stand three pallets in a U-shapeStand three pallets on their long edge to form the back and two sides of a square bin. Use the spirit level to get each one upright, and get a second pair of hands or a clamp to hold them steady while you check the corners are square.
CB-06Screw the three corners togetherWhere the pallet edges overlap at each corner, drive at least two screws top and bottom through both pallets into solid timber. Check the frame is still square and upright before moving on.
CB-07Fit the fourth pallet as a hinged frontAttach the fourth pallet to one side pallet using the two gate hinges, so it swings open like a gate. This gives you easy access for turning and emptying the compost. Screw a simple hook and eye, or a length of rope, to the opposite side to keep it shut.
CB-08Line gaps if neededLeave the base open onto the soil below — this lets worms in and helps drainage. If the gaps between pallet slats are wide and losing material, staple galvanised chicken wire to the inside faces to hold loose material in while still letting air through.
CB-09Add a simple lidAn old pallet, a scrap of plywood, or a folded tarpaulin laid over the top keeps heavy rain from waterlogging the heap and helps it heat up. This step is optional but speeds up composting.
CB-10Position and secure the binMove the finished bin to its final spot and check it's level. On soft or sloping ground, drive a wooden stake into the soil against each back corner and screw the pallet to it, so the bin can't tip when it's full.
CB-11Tidy upSweep up sawdust, splinters and any loose nails or staples from the work area, and dispose of them safely in general waste, not the compost bin itself. Store leftover screws and hinges for future repairs.