Home PilePro Compost Guide

Compost-Bin.Com PilePro Information Page

What Makes the PilePro Such a Great Compost Bin?

the pilepro with sleeve-the ultimate composter

Introduction

Thank you for wanting to read more about the PilePro. I hope that after reading this page you decide that the PilePro is the bin for you, as hundreds of other composters have. If you have questions about any content on this page, please send an email message to pilepro@compost-bin.com.

Rob D'Entremont
PilePro Inventor
Master Composter

Cylindrical Shape

From the standpoint of mechanical efficiency, the cylindrical shape is superior to any other shape. This is one reason why an 8 pound PilePro Compost Bin can easily and tidily contain hundreds of pounds of wet materials. A square structure would have to weigh many times a PilePro in order to do the same job. From the standpoint of composting efficiency, the cylindrical shape is superior as well. Material in the corners of square bins composts more slowly than material in any other spot. The cylindrical shape has no corners, and therefore no slow spots.
Note: A cylindrical bin performs best on a level surface.

Simple Design

The PilePro consists of only three parts and takes just minutes to set up. There is (1) the outer bin, (2) the closure rod, and (3) the liner. This beats any other cylindrical bin available, all of which have more complex closure mechanisms. You will really appreciate the PilePro's simplicity at harvesting time. The closure rod effortlessly slides out of the bin, allowing the bin to be easily removed from the pile.

Durable Materials

The Pile Pro Bin is made from galvanized steel. The liner is made from weatherproof plastic. The closure rod is steel. With reasonable care it will last for many years. Note: Though the eight pound PilePro can effortlessly support hundreds of pounds of materials, it will not support people leaning on it. Please prevent guests and children from leaning against the PilePro.

Optional Liner

The PilePro was sold without the Liner since its introduction in 1999. We experimented with the Liner in the spring of 2002 and were so impressed with the results that the Liner is now included as standard equipment for the PilePro. The Liner improves the PilePro Bin in two ways. The most important improvement is in moisture retention, which allows the materials to compost faster. Another improvement is in particulate material retention, which improves harvesting efficiency and helps keep the compost site tidier.
Note: The original PilePro still makes the world's most attractive compost piles, because the pile ingredients tend to obscure the bin and blend into the garden background. When making your decision you need to consider which is more important, aesthetics or speed.

Capacity

Though many sources advise that a pile needs to be at least 3' x 3' x 3' (27 cubic feet), our experience has proven otherwise. The PilePro 36L is 3' in diameter and 3' tall (21 cubic feet). It makes a massive pile that will hold more ingredients than you can imagine, especially when time is taken to make the pile into a donut shape, where materials are radially spread from the center towards the sides. Our piles are so dense that when pushed, they seem like immovable solid structures. The PilePro is available in a smaller size as well, and we truly feel that in this case less may be more. The 28L, at 30" tall has a capacity of 17.5 cubic feet. Its shorter size allows for easier access to the pile during building, so it's easier to make that "perfect pile". And you will be amazed that so much material will fit into the bin. It will probably be all the material you care to compost in one pile.

Multiple Pile Creation

The PilePro is more than just a bin. It is an appliance that can be used to create multiple piles. The perfect PilePro compost pile will settle into a stable mass that will retain its shape even without the bin. The Liner causes the pile to achieve this stability even sooner. Without the bin, the pile will settle some and spread slightly, but for the most part it will compost just fine without its bin. Removing the liner of course decreases the moisture retention of the pile, but that is generally a good thing after the pile has been kept moist for a few weeks.

Turning Ease

Turning a PilePro pile is easier than with any other bin. Simply remove the PilePro from its pile and set it up right next door. Using a fork (or your hands), disassemble the original pile a chunk at a time and start making a new pile. (Breaking up the chunks and spreading the resulting particulates helps make a better pile.)

PilePro Testimonials
Just to let you know that I set up the new PilePro Compost Bin. I am most pleased with its looks and the fact that it not only fits in my limited space but somewhat blends with the surroundings. The original compost unit that I used started to break. It was a plastic unit with a door at the bottom. Over the last year I couldn't understand why I could not retrieve compost. For compost I use mostly garden clippings, leaves and kitchen scraps, so there was nothing that couldn't easily decompose over a year's time. My unit was (is) under a hemlock, and it turns out the tree's roots were growing up into the compost. My new bin will be MUCH easier to use....
- Jane Y., Mamaroneck, New York

"The bins set up easily and I'm adding to the one I have a couple of times a week. I'm really glad I got them."
- Joanna F., Santa Rosa, California
"I want to thank you for taking your time and coming to my home and educating my about how to use your bins. I have used your techniques on putting the material in the bin, turning the material, and processing the material. The finished product has been called 'Black Gold' by one of my neighbors. With your help, I have found that composting is easy, takes little time, and gives me a lot of fun and wonderful results. One of the more fun parts of composting is that I do not have to go to the nursery to purchase compost at $5.00 a bag. I have been able to save more money in the first year, than the cost of the compost bins."
Richard V., Dallas, Texas
"As a ready resource for my rose garden and shrubbery, the product my two compost bins generates is great. Handy, inexpensive, and an endless supply of natural resource. My neighbor Bill, who saw the compost bins, bought one also 'because the compost didn't have an odor". Bill uses the compost all summer on his tomatoes. Your bins are a great idea, a great product. I highly recommend them."
- Frank C., Dallas, Texas
"Thank you for your prompt service. The PilePro was easy to assemble - I did it myself. I'm using it in this small gazebo type structure that was left by the previous owners of our home. I can easily add leaves, grass, and vegetable scraps, over the top of the enclosed wire bin. I plan to remove the rod and open the bin once the compost is ready to use in my garden. You have a great product."
- Lisa M. Manhattan, Kansas
"I am using both compost bins and they are working out very well. I hope to add quite a bit more material when the leaves begin to fall. Now I have one full and one almost half full. Good luck with them."
- Rod G., Dallas, Texas
"Goodness, I think you must have put an invisible trap door that suddenly appears on the bottom of the PilePro when you open it up. I have put tons of leaves in that thing and still have not filled it to the top. I even went to my neighbor's yard and filched some leaves from them and I am still needing more!!!! But, the good news is, our trees still have most of their leaves and they are coming down as I speak, so maybe tomorrow I can get out there and close that darn trap door. Anyway, all kidding aside, I am very happy with the PilePro and probably will buy another one because I have enough to fill it too when all the leaves stop falling. Thank you for taking the time to check on your new customers to see if they are happy."
- Sue M., Fairfield Glade, Tennesee
"I wanted to thank you for the compost bin that you donated to the Compost Fair we held on Saturday, April 29, 2000. Also I wanted to thank you for the time you took out of your schedule to be there in person interacting with participants. The people who attended seemed to enjoy learning about composting and were definitely interested in your bin as well. Participants were all hoping that their name would be the one called out when we drew names for the compost bins and tool giveaways! You certainly made at least one resident happy that day when their name was called to receive your compost bin!"
-- Backyard Compost Program Coordinator, City of Plano, Texas
"I've had my PilePro compost bin in operation since late 1999. It was delivered in perfect condition by UPS in less than 1 week from order. Setup was easy -- I simply followed the step by step instructions from the website. It was ready for use in a matter of minutes. I use it to compost all organic matter in and around the house. My home garden is flourishing because of the material generated from the bin. The bin has also attracted the attention of my entire family. My 2 cats spend hours watching birds fly around the bin and my daughter looks forward to being able to contribute banana peels and apple cores to the bin. Thank you for helping make composting a family operation."
- Bob B., Charlotte, North Carolina
"I really can't endorse any product but you can say that it is user friendly, very convenient, and does not take up a lot of space but holds a lot of material. Our composters liked it."
- Anonymous Recycling Coordinator, Dallas-Fort Worth Area, Texas
"I have seen the different designs that you have tried, but this one is a winner - you cannot do any better than this! I will take one!"
- Eduardo W., Richardson, Texas
"My other career was as a mechanical engineer...I am really impressed by this bin. I used to think that my homemade plastic mesh bin was good enough but no longer think that. After over a year my PilePro looks as good as new...the plastic one was falling apart by that time."
- Jim A., MH-Quote, Richardson, Texas
"I love my bin. I have already made two piles with it. In fact, I need to get outside and turn one of the piles before the weather gets bad!"
- Cheryl P., Rehobeth, Massachusetts
"I am very happy with the PilePro. It works great. I will surely be ordering another next fall."
- Jonathan L., Spokane, Washington
"Thanks so much for helping me set up my PilePro bin. It was completely full, and even with no water added the contents shrunk by 50% in just two weeks. I want to see how the compost turns out with just rainfall and time."
- Mary W., Richardson, Texas