Compared my DIY compost bin to a $80 store-bought tumbler and the difference was shocking

I built a three-bin system out of scrap wood for about $15 last spring, then my neighbor bought a fancy rotating tumbler from Target. His compost gets hot and breaks down in 6 weeks, mine took 4 months and still had eggshells in it. The tumblers spin so easy that he actually uses it daily, while I kept forgetting to turn my piles with a pitchfork. Anyone else tried both styles and found a clear winner?

3 comments

3 Comments

leow901d agoMost Upvoted

My neighbor Steve had the exact same experience with his $10 trash can composter that I drilled holes into. The plastic broke after 2 months and the compost never got hot at all, just smelled like rotten vegetables. I finally caved and bought a tumbler on clearance for $50 and it's honestly night and day difference. The daily spin is so easy that I actually do it while I'm waiting for my coffee to brew in the morning.

williams901d ago

Nah, drilled trash cans work fine if you actually balance your browns and greens right, Steve just messed up.

evan_jenkins1d ago

My $40 tumbler from Home Depot finally fixed my stinky, wet pile after four months of messing with a drilled bucket.