Compost bin manufacture
Practical Action
Material required and cost for fabricating one concrete bin
Description
Amount /rate
Cost (Rs)
as prices on 1/06/2005
Cement (rapid hardening
(Cost -18000.00/mould)
300.00
cement)
30.0 Kg
112.50
Iron (1/4” rods)
1.25 Kg
60.00
Metals(3/4”)
1.5 cu ft
50.00
Sand
1.25 cu ft
60.00
Paints
3 bins/person/day
275.00
Labour
Assuming 100 bins are
180.00
Cost for mould
produced from 1 mould
Total
1037.50
Fabricating process
A) Preparation of the concrete mixture
Material
Sand
Metal
Cement
Ratios
4 pans (screened through ½” mesh)
3 pans (size ¾”)
30 kg
The materials above should be well mixed and then gradually add water to have a free-flowing
concrete mixture. A good finish can be expected by adding 1 pan of quarry dust.
B) Bottom pad
Steps
1. Get the bottom pad mould (1” width iron ring that is bolted by one side) and place it on a
polythene sheet laid on levelled ground (Plate-02).
2. Pour concrete mixture into the mould (half –fill).
20”
26”
25” 14”
Plate-02
Credit: Practical Action South Asia
Plate-03
3. Place iron rings (¼”) as in diagram (three rings) Plate-03.
4. Fill the mould with concrete mixture covering the iron rings completely.
5. Level the surface using a straight pole and remove the excess concrete from the mould
(maintain thickness 1”).
6. Locate 4-5 PVC pipe pieces (½ ” diameter and 2” long each) to make the pad porous (Plate -
04).
2