Compost Bin Review

Evaluating reviews of compost bins

Consumer Reports offers the most useful compost bin review overall, although only four composters are included in its trials and the review is outdated. Mother Earth News publishes the results of a field test its staff conducted of seven compost tumbler bins versus open compost piles. Although the article is several years old and does not provide any ranking of the compost bins tested, it offers useful comparisons and descriptions of different types of compost tumblers and some advantages and disadvantages of specific brands. The website also has useful articles about composting and an "ask the expert" feature for users with composting questions. Otherwise, we found mainly single-product evaluations for compost bins, along with a variety of buyer's guides that evaluate compost bins by design, if not by brand and model. The Wall Street Journal has a short article testing four kitchen countertop models: two actual composters and two food scrap collection containers.

For some compost bins, we found disagreements among reviewers. For instance, one major testing organization criticizes the Tumbleweed Composter (*est. $180) for inconvenience and poor composting. Yet National Home Gardening Club testers give the Tumbleweed compost bin high marks, including a perfect 10 points for performance. Conversely, the Garden Gourmet (*est. $80), which the same testing organization labels "worth considering," receives only average ratings at a number of owner-review sites.

The Original ComposTumbler (*est. $430), named as a top pick by two reviewers, is analyzed less extensively than other compost tumblers and is expensive. User reviews, though sparse, are generally favorable. However, one customer notes he received no response from the manufacturer about his complaint. Another user balks at the large size of the Original, but the manufacturer also offers smaller versions that have been as well rated in reviews as the Original: the Back Porch ComposTumbler (*est. $220) and the Compact ComposTumbler (*est. $350). Mother Earth News has no complaints about the Original version but notes that none of the tumblers that claim to produce compost in 14 days (including the ComposTumbler) are able to actually achieve that result.