Customer Reviews

Urban Compost Tumbler

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've had this composter for a year. I've never had success with composting before, but this one is a marvel of speed and convenience. You're supposed to put everything in at once and then leave it for a month or so, but since I only had one I put scraps in periodically. It's decomposed a whole bunch of tough artichoke leaves and stems in just the last month. I need more compost space and considered building a large compost pile in my yard, which has the great advantage of being cheap, but the truth is that these work so well that I've decided to just buy a couple more as I can afford them. I consider myself a picky consumer and I'm not eager to part with money, but every so often a really solid product is worth its price, and this is one of those products. So suck it up and buy it already!

This composter is OK, but you can find better. I'm going to have to throw it out after about 5 years of use, during which time I've probably made 5 batches of compost, as the parts of the barrel through which the turning axle inserts are totally worn away so that there are large gaps through which water enters and compost exits. Haven't had any mice get in there yet, but it is only a matter of time.

It is very, very, very large and although the instructions say something like you are supposed to fill it up about 2/3 full and then start turning it, the truth is that once it is that full, it is so heavy it is nearly impossible to turn. That probably explains also why there is so much wear . . . all the weight of the compost is borne by the plastic of the bin when you rotate it on the axis.

In addition, it is awkward to empty.

Finally, there are no structures inside so break up clumps as you turn, so you get very large and difficult to break up clusters of stuff in the end, not fine compost. You have to construct and use your own mesh sieve if you want loose compost suitable for a bed.

Finally, the lid freezes pretty badly in the winter and is very difficult to remove.

Also, the lid is pretty awkward to put on, as you have to look at the threads to line them up just right or it will screw on crooked.

This sounds like a lot of bad stuff, but I don't mean to dump on the product. It's OK. I just think that you can probably find something better.