Compost Bins Reviews

Consumer Reports offers the most useful compost-bin review overall, although only four composters are included in its trials and the review is dated. Independent Britain-based product-testing agency Which? compiled a much broader sample of 16 compost bins for testing, but their highest performers are only available in the U.K. 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. We found excellent information on composting at The Green Guide, but editors haven't yet posted a critical evaluation of specific compost bins. The Wall Street Journal has a short article testing four kitchen-countertop models.

For some compost bins, we found disagreements among reviewers. For instance, Consumer Reports criticizes the Tumbleweed Composter (*est. $190) for inconvenience and poor composting. Yet National Home Gardening Club testers give the Tumbleweed compost bin high marks, including 10 out of 10 points for performance. Conversely, the Garden Gourmet (*est. $80), which Consumer Reports labels "worth considering," receives only average ratings at a number of owner-review sites.

The Norseman Earth Machine (*est. $90) also inspires mixed reviews. Though it's near the top of the list of demonstration bins evaluated by the Master Gardeners of Mercer County (NJ), owner ratings at Epinions vary quite a bit. Several users complain that the Earth Machine is flimsy and difficult to aerate. Others note that it warps significantly over time, which prevents the lid from fitting properly, leaving contents of the bin vulnerable to pests. Similar inconsistencies plague the SoilSaver Classic (*est. $100). The Original ComposTumbler (*est. $460), named as a top pick by two reviewers, isn't hampered by poor owner reviews so much as it is by no owner reviews at all. It's also analyzed less extensively than other compost tumblers and is expensive.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

The Envirocycle Composter has a good number of recommendations in reviews, although most of these are proffered by owners rather than experts. The Tumbleweed and the Triformis CAN-O-WORMS also get a similar number of reviews. In spite of the relatively unflattering rating the Tumbleweed receives from one professional reviewer, owner reviews of both of these models are typically positive. The Biostack and Deluxe Pyramid are both popular with owners, but the Biostack also earns a top rating in a comparison test. The Mantis ComposT-Twin was the pick of two expert reviewers, and the Urban Composter Tumbler UCT-9 was recommended by one gardening enthusiast, as well as by owners at Amazon.

An inconsistent performer, the Norseman Earth Machine was popular with two expert reviewers, but had too many bottom-of-the-barrel owner ratings at Epinions to ignore. We selected the larger Cascadia Compost Bin as worthy of consideration for those looking for a high-capacity static compost bin, even though it was mentioned by only one expert, and reliable feedback from owners was thin. This model is still likely to be a good value when viewed in terms of the amount of compost that comparably priced bins can hold, and the lack of readily available complaints or criticisms regarding this unit is somewhat reassuring. A similar thought process guided our choice of the Gardener's Supply Wire Bin Composter as a leading low-priced compost bin.