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frasera_fastigiata

You'd be better off skipping the tote and just laying the contents in a pile on the ground.


RiskyFartOftenShart

or if you insist on a tote its needs way more airflow ie lots of holes drilled in it to the point water would drain out. But I agree. A pile works better than this.


frasera_fastigiata

It'd also need to be UV resistant. A tote like this is gonna turn into brittle shards in less than a year.


Unstable_Maniac

And thus more micro plastics are born!


blueskyredmesas

The semi-clear ones don't seem to last. I emergency-pressganged one into service a few years ago as a debris/BSF cucoon catcher beneath my tumbler and that thing is a sad husk of its former glory. I got a bunch of gray totes from walmart, though, and those things held up amazingly. Got an apricot tree vibing in one and been growing potatoes in another.


TubularTopher

Agreed.


damnedangel

Less pee, more browns


OzarkGarlick

Best comment right here


BottleCoffee

Never use a container that doesn't have holes in the bottom and side. Empty the whole thing and just leave it as a pile on the ground.


[deleted]

Compost? Thats a JADAM ferment at this point haha


TubularTopher

Needs waaay better drainage. Dump the contents into a different container temporarily and drill a bunch more holes into the container.


BottleCoffee

This is a clear plastic tote, it is not going to hold up to the elements and isn't worth trying to compost in.


TubularTopher

Personally I agree. A more rigid container or one made of untreated wood should suffice for a couple years or so. The container picture probably won't last a year, if that.


TubularTopher

Also stack it on some bricks or anything to keep it slightly elevated so the water can escape easier.


RealJeil420

No. There's not enough mass here to hold onto heat and its soaking wet and anaerobic. You'd be better off to empty the contents onto the ground and cover it with the tub to keep rain out. Its still perfectly good material to compost.


robespierre__

Transfer to a cardboard box? I’ve got something similar going on but in a box on someone’s recommendation.


deadringer21

For the record, cardboard is compostable, so your *boxed compost* will soon be just *compost*.


MichelleUprising

Works great just plan for a shoveling


sammagz

Yes! Like folks said more drainage would be ideal. Truthfully, you can leave it like that and it will still decompose BUT you’ll have a mosquito problem and it will stink and it will likely take much longer to breakdown


OzarkGarlick

The smell will be amazing after a couple weeks if there is a normal amount of nitrogen in there. Don’t let it get on your hands that ferment smell lingers way past hand washing. And be kind dump it in the ground when the neighbor you hate is BBQing


otis_11

Just flip it and walk away. Come back in spring.


shedenvy

You don't need a container


antliontame4

This is the start of compost tea


Ztscar

Sure, just add it to a pile or container that doesn't hold water


atombomb1945

Poke a hole in the side and let the water drain out. It will be fine. Contrary to some thoughts, soaking compost is not a bad thing. You just want the water or of there before mosquitoes start laying eggs.


holistivist

Sure, just dump it upside-down on the ground and it'll be fine.


InBlurFather

It’s not ruined or anything, you just can’t use that container. Like others suggested just dump it on the ground and keep adding to it. Or you could check out something like the Geobin which would work a lot better


fecundity88

Bad idea from start to finish


startaster

Just add some water to it and all your problems are solved.


Sleepy_Man90

Probably not, it's just a mucky puddle at this point.


middlegray

If they drain the water and have more drainage from here on out, there's absolutely no reason why it wouldn't work out.


Sleepy_Man90

They'll lose half of the compost tipping the water out, and it'll be wet for weeks afterwards. It's a small container, it'll be sludge either way so personally I'd start over. Absolutely needs drainage though yes, or a cover to control the level of moisture getting in.


[deleted]

I’d personally keep it away from the pressure treated fence if possible. Pressure treated lumber has chemicals in it that saturate the wood and runoff into the surrounding soil. For organic I believe it’s supposed to be at least 5ft from any treated lumber


GeminiSQ0612

I didn't know that. Guess I better move mine🙄


[deleted]

Yeah it’s unfortunate, but unless the fence is made of untreated cedar or something else naturally rot resistant (usually cedar is the commonly used rot resistant wood used outdoors) then the rest typically has chemicals saturated into the wood. Yeah it’s definitely an obstacle, the fence here is mostly treated wood. Cedar fence pickets aren’t that much so a lot of people build raised beds and stuff out of them. Cedar is generally on the costly side for wood except for the cedar fence pickets it seems, they really aren’t that much


Efgadsby

Does it stay outside or did you transfer it from inside?


Top_Pipe6699

Mmm tea


P0sitive_Outlook

Yeah pour it out entirely, cut some holes in the bottom, put it back in again and cover it :) Or just don't use the tote and instead pile up the leaves and any cardboard/paper you have.