It is important to watch what goes into a home burning unit. It is also extremely important to burn safely. The home burning unit must be an enclosed system. A better alternative is the use of 6 inch concrete blocks, laid in a 3 to 4 foot diametre circle, in four staggered layers. The concrete block burn unit looks nicer than a drum, doesn't rust, and it is easy to clean out.
Good ventilation is a key to good burning.
The concrete burn unit just has to have each block separated by about an inch to provide excellent ventillation. If you plan to use your wood stove as a waste burning unit, read the manufacturers instructions carefully. Some units, especially those with catalytic converters, are only designed to burn wood.