Anyone used a Hotbin Composter

Anyone used a Hotbin Composter

Author
Discussion

jlee

Original Poster:

167 posts

88 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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Ive seen these for about £180, they get very hot and can compost in a few weeks. Anyone got one or experience?

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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Mrs Podie has one...

It works well, but you have to put in a bit more thought than a regular composter - veg scraps need to be chopped up small, you need to layer wet material with dry (boxes or bark chippings).

However, it is quick and he compost is good.

chockymonster

658 posts

209 months

Monday 27th February 2017
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Not a composter as such but a Green Cone.
It digests food waste etc and worked really well.

48k

12,986 posts

147 months

Friday 5th March 2021
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Holy thread resurrection Batman!

I've bought a hotbin composter and have started diligently filling it following the instructions. I'm currently about half way up to the "starter" level. Thermometer is showing 10 degrees C which is understandable I guess. I've got the starter "hot bottle" ready for when I reach the starter level but can't help feeling it's still asking a bit much for it to kick in to life in this weather. Has anyone had any success at starting off a hot composter in this weather?

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Friday 5th March 2021
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Yep, just put the hot water bottle in... make the bits you're putting in smaller as well. Seems to work.

Sway

26,070 posts

193 months

Friday 5th March 2021
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I've got a load of thick celotex insulation - reckon one could be DIYed?

505diff

507 posts

242 months

Friday 5th March 2021
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Having had a Hotbin for 9 years I would say providing the correct mix of material that’s not too wet is inside just keep adding stuff and it will warm up, I would not worry about the lid thermostat it’s the temperature inside the main pile that counts, don’t open the lid unless you are adding more content and It will be fine. If it’s new to you the temptation is to fiddle about which can stall it from heating up.

biggles330d

1,527 posts

149 months

Friday 5th March 2021
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Yep, got one and lets just say we're still in the learning slopes. Maybe not paying enough attention to mixes and filling properly but ours doesn't seem to heat up at all. Its proving a useful place to put in scraps and I guess they'll disintegrate in their own good time anyway??
Same with a green cone thing. No obvious magic happening.

48k

12,986 posts

147 months

Friday 5th March 2021
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Thanks for the tips.

I just had a quick peek, here's the current state of play.



So I'm about half way to "the line" after 2 weeks so guessing in another 2 weeks I should be in a position to stick the hot bottle in and get it started.