Easipet Wooden Compost Bin Review

I’ll be honest, getting the bad out the way first, out of the five compost bins that I tested, this one was my least favorite to assemble. It would have been easier if the instructions had been better – it took about ten minutes just to work out what went where, and then another 20 minutes to put everything together. It would have definitely helped if all of the wooden panels had been labeled – the process would have been much faster. 

Assembly involves slotting together the wooden slats that make up the sides of the bin, before fixing the roof together and then screwing that on. You’ll need a Philips screwdriver to assemble it. I went with a manual, rather than an electric, to limit the risk of splitting the wood. 

I would definitely recommend assembling this product near to where you plan on keeping it. Since the wooden slats fit into each other without any screws, it’s difficult for one person to pick this bin up without any parts dropping off.

If you hate assembling products, then this isn’t the compost bin for you (look at the Blackwall Composter – it may be a little smaller, but there’s no assembly required!). On the other hand, with a bit of patience, this one will go together eventually.

When it comes to appearances, this is definitely one of the best looking compost bins I’ve seen. Its fir-wood, beehive-style design, complete with hinged roof, is attractive yet subtle. Unlike a large plastic compost bin, this one will easily blend into the background of your garden. You won’t necessarily need to conceal it either, because it’s not an eyesore. In fact, you could even paint it so that it complements the colour scheme of your garden. 

But does prettiness overrule practicality in this particular case? In some ways, yes. 

The bin’s slats are spaced quite far apart. It gives the bin a beautiful visual effect, but it means that small pieces of kitchen waste can end up falling through. If you have food-motivated dogs, who have access to the bin, the design will also be problematic. I found that my dogs kept pulling food back out through the slats. 

I also think that the large gaps will allow too much heat to escape, which will prolong the composting process.

Other than the spacing of the slats, this bin has a pretty clever design. Its 328 litre capacity will work well for gardens of all sizes, and the removable panel at the base should make it easy to access the finished compost.

In many ways, the Easipet Wooden Compost Bin couldn’t be easier to use. Simply open the hinged lid, prop it up, and then empty your garden waste in. 

It’s definitely handy being able to prop the lid up – the 4smile Garden Compost Bin didn’t allow for this and the lid kept falling back down onto me as I was filling it. 

However, it was still a little tricky to reach in with a garden fork and properly turn the compost. A removable lid would have been a little more convenient without taking too much away from this product’s visual aesthetic.

The removable panel at the bottom of this bin fits in and out easily, but I do have my doubts about the latch. It doesn’t seem too strong, and I’m not sure if it would hold the panel in place once the full weight of the finished compost is behind it. Still, it wouldn’t be too difficult to screw another latch on or strengthen the current one.

When I first assembled this product, I had doubts about its overall sturdiness. However, once I had the bin full of garden material, it felt much more secure. As I mentioned, I had issues with using kitchen waste in this bin, so I filled it with material from my garden instead, along with some cardboard and clumps of sheep fleece, and the bin held everything in place well.

Compared to some of the other compost bins that I tested, this one is pretty pricey. BUT, it’s much more of a ‘garden feature’ than other compost bins. You could use it as a frame for peas and beans to climb over in the spring and summer, or, if it’s empty, use it to neatly store pots and garden tools. 

Also, this is the only wooden compost bin that I tested, and wood does cost significantly more than plastic, especially post-Brexit. Even if you went the DIY route and made your own, you wouldn’t really save much, especially if you factored in your time too.

The only thing that detracts from this bin’s value is the fact that it’ll likely need a regular wood treatment to keep it in good condition and to prevent it from rotting. I personally would be wary of treating wood and then using that to make compost, but this may not be an issue for some. Even so, the fir wood used to make this bin feels tough and sturdy – it’ll likely last a good few years, even without a treatment.

There may be a couple of minor practicality issues with the Easipet Wooden Compost Bin, but, on the whole, I would highly recommend this product to anyone searching for a compost bin that’s both stylish and functional. It’s definitely the best compost bin if you’re after one with aesthetic appeal, but you will spend a little more on it than a standard plastic model. It’s got a good, easy-to-use design overall, but be aware that animals will be able to access food through the slats.