Best Compost Bin – July 2019

#1 Envirocycle Composting Tumbler Bin

This is our best compost Tumbler bin. It occupies a space under 3 feet square, offers the ease of a rotating tumbling Composter.

Collects and syphons off Compost tea easily.

Contains no harmful chemicals and will never rust. Also comes in a bright Pink option.

This is the 35 gallon Model, a smaller (17 gallon) option is available, but at only 28 inches high by 23 inches wide and 29 inches deep we think the larger capacity unit is ideal. It is made in the USA and has a 5-year warranty. Read More

#2 Yimby Tumbler Composter

We love this dual chamber rotating Compost Tumbler.

It mirrors the concept of our original “3 bay” system but produces workable compost in as little as two weeks in hot weather.

It is also small enough for an apartment balcony. The two separate chambers mean you can fill one and leave it to “cook” while adding new material to the second chamber.

This should lead to a continuing flow of fresh compost. Read More

#3 Good Ideas CW-2X12 Senior Wizard Dual Tumbler

A larger version of the two chamber concept.

Each of the two, 40 gallon chambers, is effectively a separate bay, producing compost in batches at varying rates.

As internal heat is a key factor in compositing, this allows you to readily check on the status of the material in each chamber.

Arrives fully assembled, just position it in a sunny spot and you are done. Read more

#4 Lifetime 60028 65 Gallon

Perfect for a balcony, courtyard, or garden, this tumbler has a 65 gallon capacity. It rotates on its own axis and is completely sealed against odor and bugs.

The metal frame is powder coated for longer life, and the well balanced Tumbler is easy to rotate. The large, hinged access doors provide easy access for depositing materials.

With the Bottom of the tumbler some 30 inches above the ground, you can easily wheel in a barrow to collect finished Compost. This composter has a 5 year manufacturers warranty. Read more

#5 Rotary Garden Tumbler Composter

The two compartments of this Tumbler provide a combined 37 Gallon capacity and allow you to continue adding material to one compartment as the other is maturing.

Bin is easy to rotate and the system is made from 50% recycled plastic.

Easily assembled. Dual compartments allow compost in one to mature as you are filling the other.

Easy access to finished Compost access point in the base. Read more

#6 Spin Bin Compost Barrel

With a 60 Gallon capacity this is easily our largest, single bin Tumbler and is best suited to for customers with a lot of material to Compost, and a warm location with lots of sunlight to heat the mix and help convert it quickly.

The molded bin has a light feel to it, but it gets pretty heavy when full. Users say its best to get it rocking and use that momentum to help rotate it when full.

With large access hatches at either end, this bin is easily loaded with your Kitchen Compost Bin or a spade. It is designed to be emptied onto a sheet on the ground and is too low to empty into a wheelbarrow unless you can position it on a platform first.

It has multiple slots to allow you to insert a Thermometer and check mixture temperature and internal mixing bars to increase the effect you get when rotating the Bin Read More

#7 Omer’s 110 Gallon Compost Bin

This is the #1 new Release in Compost Bins on Amazon.

The entire top opens for easy loading. It has ventilation holes all around the bin for improved composting, and an access door on each of the 4 sides for easier removal of finished compost.

Made from recycled BPA free plastic, it can be left out in all weather and will not deteriorate.

Comes with a 2 year warranty, and if you out grow the bin you can add a 50 gallon extension to it for $40.

Excellent value.

#8 Worm Factory 360 WF360B

This Worm farm comes as a 4 Tray stack, which is certainly enough for most users. The base is designed to collect worm tea and has a built in spigot for easy harvesting.

If you are new to Composting with worms, you can access the online training guide after you register your purchase (and claim your warranty). Ideal for courtyard or balcony.

Because Worm Farms do not require heat retention, they can deviate from the standard black plastic of other compost bins. Available in Black Green or Terracotta. Read more

If you would prefer a large, static compost bin and can afford the slightly higher price, this bin offers a full 82 gallon capacity.

This has a more attractive circular design, and a locking lid.

It comes fully assembled (which you know is a blessing if you have previously assembled one of the square bins).

Has a large opening on top with a twisting on lid and a generous opening for removal of Compost. The unit has no base, which allows access for garden worms as well. Read More

If you would to create your own Compost bays, here is a step by step guide.

In the old days of larger back gardens, all that was needed for this journey was an under-utilized space along a fence or a wall somewhere. Basically, any space where you could create 3 bays, side by side. Each bay with a solid back, and two vertical sides, and with each “wall” measuring around 1.2 meters (or 4ft) square.Once filled, each bay gives you one Cubic meter of material, which matures into about a half a meter of beautiful, organic, nutritious soil for your plants overtime.If you have enough space the old “bay” style might still be best compost bin for you. This video shows you how to build a durable and attractive set of compost bins from scratch. Alternatively, you can do the same thing using old wooden pallets or scrap materials if appearance is not so important to you.
So let’s get started.• Step Number 1
The idea is to fill the first bay (left side), with a combination of Dry materials, Green materials, and clean manure. (See recipe below). Day by day just add your garden and plant-based kitchen scraps (no meat products), as they become available, and cover with grass or straw.To speed up the process, cover the pile with a heavy plastic sheet to help the sun build internal heat. Add a little water every few days so it stays moist, and in about 4-6 weeks it will be time to start moving things to the next stage.• Step Number 2
At that time you can lay your plastic on the ground in front of the pile, and drag the most recently added, yet to decompose, materials onto that sheet. With a garden fork, move the remaining (partly decomposed) material over the dividing wall to your right, into bay number two. Cover the new Bay 2 with a second plastic sheet, and put the fresher material back as a base for bay #1Now, refresh Bay #1 with some fresh green material (grass or veggie scraps), some dry material (leaves or straw) and on top spread some more clean manure. Water it in well, and cover it again. Continue to add fresh garden waste to Bin number 1.Adding to Bin #1 becomes a simple, daily activity, and after another 4 weeks repeat step 2 again, adding decomposing material to bay 2 and freshening up number 1.A little patience is required here, but as you repeat steps 1 and 2 the volume of material in Bay #2 slowly builds.You will need to turn this material weekly with a fork or Compost Turner, but, in a few weeks, you will notice that it changes into a loose, well “rotted”, sweet smelling blend.• Step Number 3
Depending on your climate, and the volume of raw material you have available, this process will likely have taken at least 3 or 4 months. However, you are now ready to move this well-composted material into bay 3. Anything that is not quite ready stays in Bay 2. Just continue to repeat from step #1 as material comes available.

The good news is that Bay #3 is now a ready source of sweet, new organic soil for your garden beds or plant pots.
Best of all it costs you nothing but your time, a little manure, and your fascination.
Speeding up the cycle- A simple recipe

The secrets in the composting process are twofold. Firstly a regular mix of 2 parts “green” material (including Kitchen Scraps), 1 part “dry material” (leaves, straw dry grass clippings) and we add clean manure on top. Secondly a combination of moisture (which draws the manure down into the mix), and heat, generated internally by the composting process which “cooks” the mix

That is pretty much the process, and those are our suggestions for the best Compost bin, be it home made, Static, Compost Tumbler or pre-compost shredder.

When choosing remember that Compost Bins last a long time, so whichever way you go it might be worth spending a little extra now, (if necessary) to get the features you want, rather than compromise. Be patient,enjoy the process, and your flower beds and veggie patch will never look back.