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Rec's for outdoor Compost Bin

7 years ago

hi all,

looking for an outdoor bin, on the large size, durable and easy to use.

i bought the 'soil saver'. first time delivered, no screws, instructions or guide. so basically nothing but the parts and not sure if all the parts were sent, since no instruction sheet. sent back. ordered another thinking ' it can't happen again', it did.

reached out to company with phone calls, emails and Nothing- crickets!

so sending that one back as well.


search begins again! i am open to any type except DIY, no time. what brand/type do u recommend??

Comments (13)

  • 7 years ago

    I have had one of these for years. I love that you can switch sides so the compost can finish working on one side and you can add fresh stuff to the other. Sometimes it doesn't break down fast enough (I'm bad at remembering to tumble it often enough), but somehow mine ended up with earthworms in it - I would add them deliberately now - and they made the most beautiful compost FAST! I also like that no critters can get into it, as we have raccoons and squirrels (and rats drawn to the neighbors' chicken food).It's a Mantis brand. They also have single barrel.

    sprtphntc7a thanked Olychick
  • 7 years ago

    We have 3; all different. I'll look for links. I know we got one at Costco but they may no longer carry it. We do have a twin bin similar to the one Olychick listed but it's on a lower, sturdy stand.

  • 7 years ago

    We have this Good Ideas composter we got from Tractor Supply one year. It's on a low base (ground level) and turns well. The access point is a lid that rotates so it's a little clumsy to operate. We tried to put it on an elevated pedestal but it topples over. works well but we only use it as overflow for the "usuable" stuff.


    We purchased this composter from Costco and use it the most. It's large capacity, easy to turn, the bin locks in place with a pin, the lid locks with clamps and the base is pretty much topple proof. This receives kitchen waste, some yard waste and paper shredder waste. Does a great job!


    This composter was purchased by friends of ours and they gave it to us. They are getting older and had grand ideas on composting all their kitchen waste. That didn't happen so they gave it to us. We use this mainly for composting yard waste that we don't mix in with the second one. Usually things that will take a bit longer to break down.


    While searching for links to the ones we own, I found this article that reviews rotating composters. All 3 of the ones we own are listed!

    sprtphntc7a thanked dees_1
  • 7 years ago

    I have the one Olychick posted purchased with the idea that when it came time to empty it all that was needed was to roll the wheelbarrow under it and empty. My wheelbarrow is too tall to go under it from the front. It will go under in the back so you would have to leave room to enter that way. To empty it requires moving the handle back and forth like you would sift flour. There is even a metal sieve if you pay extra that will keep the larger particles in. It will cut the toothpicks out of you if you are not very careful.

    Most composters that I saw while looking for them suggest that you keep them a certain distance from anything. That distance varies from composter to composter.

    First you need to decide what size you will need and what you are going to put in them. Household waste or yard material Many that are sold are not large enough to handle a lot of stuff. Tree branches of even an inch are hard for them to digest.

    sprtphntc7a thanked User
  • 7 years ago

    We have had this one from Gardener’s Supply for many years. Some reviews say it was hard to put together, but we had no problem with ours. It may be different now. Ours has held up fine. I don’t put hard branches in it as they don’t break down fast enough.

    https://www.gardeners.com/buy/deluxe-pyramid-composter/38-682.html

    sprtphntc7a thanked OutsidePlaying
  • 7 years ago

    thanks everyone!!!

    i ordered 60072 Lifetime 100 Gallon Double Bin Rotating Composter from Gardeners Edge. used a 40% coupon, so did very well.!

    lets hope its durable and that i made a good choice!

    thanks again! Happy Composting!!

  • 7 years ago

    We've been composting since the mid 80s. Have never put twigs or branches in the bins.

    sprtphntc7a thanked User
  • 7 years ago

    For those of you that never put twigs or branches in the bins what do you do with them? Especially the twigs. Last years price for a bag except for Saturday was $5 each at the city's brush recycling centers. It has been lowered to $1 this year. Holding all the tidbits from the trees require some sort of pile/bin etc. until the twice yearly free pickup.

    sprtphntc7a thanked User
  • 7 years ago

    Hi all, I wanted to thank you for your recommendations. I purchased the Lifetime 80-gallon Composter and it came yesterday. We assembled it today and it seem very sturdy and spins easily, at least empty. I've composted for years, but always turned piles by hand. Since the lymphoma, that seems to be well outside my capabilities, but this looks like I may have be doing it the hard way for a long time. The OP and your recommendations got me off my butt and composting again!

  • 7 years ago

    Maifleur, we are fortunate that this city picks up yard waste weekly. Branches need to be broken or cut to no more than 4 foot and bundled or place in bags/cans weighing less than 40 pounds.

    But I do toss all the little twigs and small branches that I can break into small pieces right onto my flower beds to add to the mulch, or onto my compost pile. Larger branches I will line the inside of my fence to aid weed suppression.

  • 7 years ago

    maifleur01

    We also have weekly yard waste pickup.

  • 7 years ago

    We only have twice a year yard waste pickup. Limit used to be twenty bags or items up to two feet by 4 ft it was reduced last year to fifthteen bags last year. If you wait to Saturday you can take it to one of two sites for free. Rest of the week it is $1 per bag or $25 for a small load. There are private services but the cost is higher.

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