The comment was made about having large pieces of material and air flow. One a positive note is that you are composting. Great job.

Bro, my compost took off in only 3 weeks. Here is what I noticed that you are missing/ did wrong. First take those plates out of there. The only cardboard you should have is the one where there is like little waves between the two papers, this type of cardboard will provide a lot of air which will keep your compost from being to wet. I noticed you had like almost no Nitrogen/ Green material. Try to keep the materials 50/50 Carbon to Nitrogen. Also those cornstocks are literally useless since they provide no moisture. Try to put greens in their that are mostly made out of water, like Melons, Squash, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Cabbage, leafy greens. Just add more greens thats whats missing. Then Water, move the compost around for more air, and let it sit for 3 days, do this every 3 days.

You don’t have composters going on there, you have a storage for domestic trash. Composting works well if you use mainly garden waste so there is a good mix of natural greens and browns which are already inoculated with microorganisms etc. if you mainly wish to compost kitchen waste and shredded paper, you are right about going down the worm bin route. Look up horizontal migration worm bins. They would work quite well with kitchen waste and shredded paper. Cold composting which is what it looks like you were trying to do takes over a year, not months. Even though you are using trash cans, it’s not obviously no turn. You could be forking the contents of one trash can to an empty trash can, get a staging system going. It’s a learning curve and a fun journey. My first compost pile was a soggy mess full of flies, now I love composting and wish I had started sooner.

It would break down faster if you break apart the material (large leaves & branches, paper plates, egg carton). I think you could add some holes all around the sides of the garbage can for air too.

The most refreshingly, honest video I’ve seen on KZfaq in ages.

As has been commented already, more holes around the bottom of the bins and use lots more greens and even a handful of garden soil with each layer, that will have the microbes, bugs and even worms that will help kick-start the composting.

thanks for sharing.

I start the composting inside the house. The bin has a foot pedal. I put shredded paper in the bottom, to start, which absorbs juices as you go on putting kitchen scraps in the bin. Every so often put another layer of shredded paper to prevent smells. The paper plates you had should have been torn up to make composting quicker. The smaller stuff is, the better. The composting process requires sufficient moisture and air, if it dries, composting ceases until more moisture is available.

Finer shreading and nice size holes has has been already said. You definitely need those worms to get it mate, they do mamouth work.

Nooo, don't put meat or seafood in compost, it will attract rodent's, use eggshells ect for calcium, or some people use a sprinkle of cheap powdered milk. Break everything down to smaller pieces as well, it will break down a bit quicker, need to put lots of holes in the bins as well, air and critters can get in :) It's great that you are doing it, i'm trying to start as well, but i've watched Alot of video's on how to compost, and learned alot from this, education is the key. GOOD LUCK dude

Oh my god thats alot of paper

You need four rows of vertical holes at 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock. The holes need to be about 7/8 inch big and you only need 5 in each row. I see you have tiny vertical holes. No styrofoam plates or bowls.

First off your not breaking your compost down way to much paper

I do trash can composting and it takes months. I have larger holes than yours all around the can and I thoroughly wet the entire contents. I then put the top and bungee cord it place and lay it on the side. I also have holes on the bottom. I then roll the can to simulate turning it. When it rains the contents also get wet so I don’t have to worry. Even with all that it takes a while.

I agree about more holes along the bottom and sides, and I would have given each layer a spray with the water hose and nozzle. Excess water should be able to escape from the holes.

You need 2" holes in the bottom to allow microbes and worms to get in.

Unlucky, mate. Trying my own compost, mostly kitchen scraps, cats and shredded paper. Using old compost bags. Seems to be working, but taking months. Hopefully warmer weather will help. Good to see you haven't given up. 👍

I noticed U use used tamales, leaves? If U don't mind me asking do they have Nitrogen & what kind of Nutrients? U also can use more holes around U'r can 4 more, air. Happy gardening & keep, rocking!

Cut the bottom off 1 bin bury an inch in ground start filling with scraps the worms will come up through the soil no collection of worms needed just keep turning the content as you don't want it matting together

what a learning opportunity. we've all had them. if you're going for fungal innoculated compost your should be putting your wood chips into a cold pile or bin and keep them out of your hot bin. the wood is stealing nitrogen, thereby heat, from your other composting material which is probably contributing to your lack of decomposition in addition to the lack of water. i'm going to start a cold bin this fall after all the leaves are raked. another aid to the lack of decomposition is the size of your material. those egg cartons & paper plates need to be tore up into much smaller pieces and you're missing air. in my trash cans (20 gal) i have aproximately 50 1/2" holes sides and bottom in an octogon pattern with none in the top to keep the elements out after i had a problem with too much rain and all the 'good stuff' getting washed out. i have a series of 8. 1 for each month of 6, 1 with finished compost & 1 for mixing & stirring. i have finished product at ambient temperatures usually in 4 1/2 months. no turn is going to take much longer and without air it's going to go anaerobic on you and it's going to get very messy. also, when you add moisture try adding some molasses, maple syrup or soda pop. i've even used sugar in a pinch. adding sweet to your water will make your microbes more active which in turn will make your worms happy if you've got any in your bins. you also might try sweet watering the ground your bins sit on to attract some worms. i check the temps of my bins frequently - daily during growing season when i water - and if that temp is below 100 i move it into my empty bin giving it a stir & relayering adding sweet water to feed the microbes and moisten the compost material along with alfalfa pellets for heat. alfalfa pellets is probably the best thing you can add to compost that is cooling off to heat it up. you need moisture for the pellets to break down and go to work. one last note, add some finished compost to your bins to give the microbes a leg up. compost is living. water & nourishment is life. good luck bud.

Should've filled with water til it was coming out of the holes, then water every week.

Use a blender to cut all your kitchen scraps into smaller pieces. Don’t put anything salty into your compost.

Was always told there are living organisms in the compost and needs to stay moist I water every other day….

Wet each layer as you add it. It’s much too dry. Also rip your cardboard into smaller pieces.

How long does it takes to breakdown and in this trashcan to Harvest?

Try putting holes in the bottom of the containers to let worms in. I think you are too dry also. Maybe some bigger holes in the sides of the containers will provide more air.

Doesn't white paper have bleach in it??🤔Just wondering, I have never made my own compost so I don't have any expertise.

Bury sum red wigglers n strick em in there it looks dry maybe to many holes

Far to few and two small holes dont let the air in, so it cant work.

It needs oxygen... put holes in the trash can.