What type of container should be used for vermicomposting?

Last Updated on July 10, 2021 by Jeffery Jago

If you’re just starting out with your vermicomposting hobby, You might be a bit stuck on which type of container is best.

That’s not really surprising when there is such a huge variety of containers you can use, from plastic to styrofoam, wood, and even bottomless and spinner containers.

The truth is, all of these containers are valid options for vermicomposting.

They all have their own unique properties and flaws.

That said, you’ll probably start out with a simple plastic bucket that you can purchase at your local home improvement store. While they’re not necessarily the best option for an enclosure, they do have one thoughtfully refined design to them that other containers might not have.

Another option that’s also widely used is the old standby wooden crate. Wooden crates are a tad less common these days, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a good option.

A plastic or wooden crate is easy to make modifications to if you decide your setup needs it. For example, you can drill holes in the corners of the top cover and add ventilation pipes.

The downside to the wood of course is rot. It’s not good to treat the wood as that could caus ill-effects to the worms inside. Since a vermicomposting bin is always damp, it’s easy to see how quickly it could rot out after a few years.

Plastic is always a better option, especially when starting out. A simple Rubbermaid bin is more than adequate to get you started. The only real downside is they aren’t easy to modify or fit into tight areas.

You will also need to place plenty of drainage holes and air circulation holes in order to make it ideal for composting with worms.

Another option that’s growing in popularity is the stackable, square containers made out of plastic. They’re cheap and disposable which makes them great for people who want to just try vermicomposting without making a commitment to the hobby.

These are all good options, and no matter what you choose it’s important to think about how you’re going to be treating the bin in order to make your decision.

Are you going to be doing the layer method, in which you layer compostables and as the worms finish one layer they move up to the other one.

Or are you going to use a tumbler (don’t worry it doesn’t hurt the worms) and just throw everything in at once.

These are all things you need to consider before you decide on a bin.