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Build rodent-resistant compost bays

Well-built bays keep animals out and make turning easy. Rodent-proofing is cheapest when done at the start.

How

1. Build bays from wood, blocks or pallets (not treated or painted timber), about 1 m wide, deep and high for hot piles.
2. Line walls with 6 to 13 mm (1/4 to 1/2 inch) galvanised wire mesh, covering any vents.
3. Set the base on mesh-covered pallets or on 75 to 100 mm (3 to 4 in) of coarse gravel over galvanised hardware cloth.
4. Fit a tight lid to the bay that receives food scraps.
5. Keep bays away from woodpiles, sheds and brush piles where animals nest.
6. Put a lidded kitchen caddy by the sink and a covered browns bin beside the bays.

Safety: Wear gloves and eye protection when cutting mesh; cut wire ends are sharp.

Sources

1. Composting: Preventing Animal Nuisances. Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County, accessed 2026-11
2. Composting At Home. US Environmental Protection Agency, accessed 2026-11

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