Composting home and garden waste just got easier.
Composting: that amazing activity that recycles food scraps and yard waste into dynamic nutrients for your garden. Not only does composting help reduce methane production (making it climate-friendly), it also nourishes healthy soil and the creatures who live there. What’s not to love?
If turning compost isn’t your favorite pastime, you can still have quick and easy nutrients with a compost tumbler.
Some would say ‘the work,’ since the fastest home compost piles are the ones that get turned regularly. All this turning brings oxygen to the microorganisms that help speed decomposition, but it can also be hard on the back.
If turning compost isn’t your favorite pastime, you can still have quick and easy nutrients with a compost tumbler. Designed to take the work out of composting, tumblers are simple to operate and even faster to compost. Read on to learn how to make a compost tumbler work for you.
What is a compost tumbler?
A compost tumbler is essentially a closed compost bin or drum that’s rotated to mix the contents inside. Some tumblers are mounted on an axis to make turning easy. Others are rolled on a sliding base or directly on the ground. The drum may consist of one or more chambers that you fill with kitchen scraps and other waste. The chambers are usually sealed, making them rodent and racoon proof.
How does a tumbler work?
If you’ve ever wondered how to use a compost tumbler, you’re not alone. Many people opt for stationary bins when they first start composting but quickly consider compost tumblers for their ease and speed. Starting a compost tumbler is as easy as tossing in food waste and turning the crank.
When you rotate the drum of a compost tumbler, the waste ‘tumbles’ around, introducing air pockets to the decomposing matter inside. These air pockets provide oxygen for the microorganisms that help break down food waste and other organics, enabling them to do their job. They also prevent the odors caused by inadequate air supply.
Are compost tumblers faster?
Compost tumblers help create the ideal environment for decomposition. While many composting bins on the market today are extremely effective at breaking down waste, compost tumblers generally work faster. That’s because their easy-to-use design means they get rotated more often.
How to start composting in a tumbler
Getting started with a compost tumbler is easy, but it consists of several steps. Once you’ve answered the following questions, you’ll be well on your way to nourishing, fantastic compost. Here is our guide for using a compost tumbler for beginners.
Knowing how much waste your household produces is a good first step to choosing the right compost tumbler.
- What size tumbler should you use?
There are as many compost tumbler designs as there are compost bins. The main thing to look for is a tumbler that’s durable, long lasting and sized appropriately for your household.
Consider how many gallons of food waste you produce each week. Use that estimate to select the best for your family.
For example, the Jora JK125 compost tumbler is ideal for a household of 1 to 4 people producing between 2 and 4 gallons per week. The larger Jora 270 has an operating capacity of 6 to 8 gallons per week. Most tumblers come with a recommended capacity to help make selecting the right fit easier.
- Should you use a single or dual-chamber composter?
Many compost tumblers come with two separate compartments: one for adding new material and another for old material that is full and decomposing. These are known as ‘continuous use composters’ because there is always space available.
If you’d like to use your compost tumbler on a continuous basis, be sure to choose a design with multiple chambers. If a single batch is enough for you, consider barrel-design tumblers like the EZ Compost Wizard.
- Where should you locate your compost tumbler?
Like a stationary compost bin, tumblers do best when located in dappled sun or shade. Sun can distort plastic components. Over time, this may prevent them from fitting together properly. It can also dry out composting materials. While this is less likely to happen in a sealed tumbler, locating your composter in the shade will usually extend its life.
Similarly, models with metal components will last longer if protected from rain. Storing them under the eaves of a garden shed will prevent rusting and add years to the composter’s life.
If you want to put your tumbler inside a garage or outbuilding, just remember it may leak liquid onto the floor. Placing a tray beneath the drum will help catch any spills.
- What materials should you put inside a compost tumbler first?
What to put in compost tumbler to start? Some people recommend adding ‘starter’ to a new compost pile to help kickstart the process. We find it’s equally effective to use a handful of old compost, manure or yard dirt rich in organic matter.
The microorganisms in this material will inoculate your compost and help it decompose more efficiently. You won’t need to add anything to future loads, because these natural helpers will have set up shop in your tumbler.
Toss the dirt or compost in with kitchen scraps and raked leaves or sawdust for best results. Feed your tumbler every 1 to 2 days until the chamber is about 4 in (10 cm) from the top.
You can grass clippings to the tumbler as well, but take care to sprinkle these in with other materials to prevent matting. A matted mass takes longer to break down and tumbling won’t help.
- Should you cut up your compost?
A tumbler will work faster if you roughly chop your scraps. Cut vegetable, fruit and flower/plant refuse into pieces about 1 to 2 inches (4 to 6 cm). Tear or shred paper scraps. Avoid adding plants or shrubs with very woody stems.
- Can you put meat or cooked food into a compost tumbler?
In many cases, yes you can. Compost tumblers work differently than stationary bins and can accommodate a wider range of kitchen waste. The Jora models effectively compost meat, fish, bread, cooked food and even wood-pellet cat litter. Other models have specific recommendations. Be sure to read your instruction manual carefully.
- How often should you turn a compost tumbler?
It’s easy to turn your tumbler each time you add compost. Open the lid, pop in your green waste, and add any brown material that you have handy. Raked leaves or sawdust are excellent choices.
Replace the lid and spin the drum one or two times to help aerate the mix. Just don’t overmix: too much turning can prevent your compost from heating up, slowing down the decomposition process.
A single chamber compost tumbler (left) like the EZ Compost Tumbler, processes compost all at once. A dual-chamber model (right), like this Jora JK 125, processes one batch while you add to another.
What should you put in your compost tumbler? Kitchen waste, paper scraps, and yard trimmings are all great choices!
Add absorbent materials high in carbon to your compost tumbler to help waste compost quickly without getting too wet.
Year-round compost tumbling
While most composters slow down in the winter months, they don’t have to stop completely. Consider your climate and the average day and nighttime temperatures. Decomposition stops when your pile freezes completely. Even then, decomposers like bugs and worms may keep working in the center of a pile. That’s where warmth keeps things above average temperatures.
To help your compost along, fill your tumbler with the right amount of green and brown waste according to your manufacturer’s instructions. (Autumn leaves are a great brown material for winter composting.) Use an insulated tumbler, feeding it regularly and checking to make sure it doesn’t get waterlogged or too dry.
Related: Use Autumn Leaves to Keep Your Composter Working Through the Winter
Where to buy compost tumblers
Check out the full line of tumblers in our shop, including dual-chamber, insulated, metal, and plastic models.
Other common questions about composting in a tumbler
What is the best thing to put in a compost tumbler?
The best thing to put in a tumbler is kitchen waste, coffee grounds, soft plant trimmings, raked leaves, grass clippings and shredded (and unbleached) paper products.
What shouldn’t you put in a compost tumbler?
Some tumblers aren’t meant for breaking down grains, beans, cooked food, fats, oils, animal products or pet waste. Others can successfully break down many of these materials. Follow the instructions from your chosen tumbler for the best chance of success.
What is a dual-batch compost tumbler?
A dual batch composter is a compost tumbler with two chambers. Fill one up, then move on to the second one while the first one rots. Presto! You’re never without a place to put your food waste.
What are the main problems with a compost tumbler?
Since compost tumblers are sealed units, very little evaporation takes place as your scraps are breaking down. This means they can get waterlogged if you load them with too much food waste and not enough absorbent material.
The simple solution is to add sawdust, dry leaves, shredded paper or coconut coir to your tumbler. These materials will help absorb moisture and balance your compost’s carbon to nitrogen ratio.
Related: How to Choose the Right Composter
Are compost tumblers worth it?
We certainly think so. Compost tumblers are clean, easy to use, and vermin proof. Their compact design makes them both tidy and effective. And the finished compost is worth its weight in gold for gardeners.
