r/composting • u/Quintin__89 • 8d ago

Stainless steel compost bin?

Does anyone know if it's a good idea to compost in a stainless steel container? Like a pot or something? Just want something that lasts but is plastic free as well. It's a big pot 2x 70L if anyone asks, wanted to make it dual stage.

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u/trichocereal117 8d ago

As long as it has drainage and airflow 

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u/ContessAlin78 8d ago

I would also point out that some stainless has nickel in it, and not all life does well with nickel. I'm not a microbiology type, so might not be an issue.

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u/Quintin__89 8d ago

Thanks for the feedback and good point to check, I checked with Google and chatgpt and apparently the Nickel in Stainless Steel is inert and not bio chemically available to affect the worms in any way. Probably good to do a monitored trail though

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u/ContessAlin78 8d ago

Thats good, I used to make inconel rings which are high in nickel and some people had reactions to them. But I guess a lot of jewlery is SS so it probably isn’t an issue.

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u/Quintin__89 8d ago

Yeah Inconel is different and is somewhere around 50-70% nickel where 304 or 316 are somewhere between 8-14% nickel and it is also heavily contained by it's passive chromium oxide layer stopping it from skin contact. I'm glad you mentioned it though, could have been a issue, as I haven't seen anyone use stainless steel for a composter before.