What are the downsides to a hot compost bin?
Steve Allcock, by email
MATTHEW SAYS Hot composting is usually a method for industrial-scale composting, where heat is generated by millions of bacteria. Smaller-scale hot composting relies on an insulated box and regular inputs of material – about 5kg a week – plus a bulking agent. If you don’t keep topping the bin up, it loses its heat, so consider this before investing.