Free Compost Bucket Liner

I know that they sell biodegradable bags for compost buckets.  I could just never wrap my mind around buying them.  I mean, why spend money on a bag....just rinse out the bucket when you're done.  Its free that way.  And that is what we've been doing for years.  But, I may have changed my tune.

Well, as it turns out, while I certainly don't need a liner I do quite enjoy having one for my compost bucket--mainly because I don't have to snap twigs off the lilac bush to use when trying to coax some slimy bit off the bottom of the can anymore.  But, even better, I didn't have to spend any extra money to get that little convenience... which is the only way such a convenience would happen at my house.

Here is how:

I got the idea from the Root Simple folks.  As I recall Mr. Root Simple had a revelation about using his old newspaper for lining the bottom of his compost bucket instead of just recycling it.   I thought that it was a pretty clever idea, but since I don't have a newspaper at my house that part wouldn't work for me.  But, I did have a growing collection of small brown paper sacks with handles under my sink that might just do the trick!

See, one of our local health food stores bags up potatoes, onions, etc that are getting a little past their prime into these papers sacks to be sold at discount.  Matt and I frequently hit them up as usually the food looks a-okay and it is much cheaper.  But, the bags aren't really a very useful size once I get them home.  They are pretty small.  Just perfect for sitting inside my compost bucket it turns out!

Of course, its advisable to remove the price tag sticker before composting.  Plastic stickers don't compost well, after all.