Rat-Proof Composting: Hardware Cloth Cylinder System

Solving the Rat-Compost Conflict

Standard compost piles attract rats despite burying kitchen scraps. This DIY exclusion system uses a hardware cloth cylinder to compost food waste securely while allowing beneficial organisms access.

Construction Details

1. Form 36-inch × 10-inch cylinder from ½-inch hardware cloth
2. Cut 8 evenly spaced 6-inch tabs at one end
3. Fold tabs inward and wire together to close bottom
4. Bury cylinder vertically in compost pile center
5. Insert 10-inch black plastic pot as removable lid

Operation

• Lift pot, add kitchen scraps, replace pot
• Liquids drain through hardware cloth
• Worms enter from surrounding compost
• Rats excluded by wire and pot lid

Advantages

Processes food waste quickly, integrates with existing pile, requires no turning, and completely excludes rodents. The hardware cloth lasts indefinitely.