Posted by Home Composter on November 11th, 2009 under Urban Compost Tumbler, Worm Bins

To me the term urban compost tumbler would indicate a compost tumbler that was suitable for a small indoor space or a small porch, deck or balcony. Otherwise, why use the term “urban” to describe it? That’s the definition that I’m using and so far, I haven’t really found anything that would qualify. The closest thing would be the Envirocycle Composter which is fairly small compared to most compost tumblers. It sits low and fits in a fairly small space (H 30.5 x W 25.5 x D 20.25). The only problem is that once it is full, you must wait several weeks for it to turn to compost before you can add more. That means that you either stop composting until it’s done, buy two Envirocycle Composters or else store your food waste until you can empty the composter.

That’s the reason I didn’t end up buying an urban compost tumbler. I wanted something small to which I could continually add food and paper waste and discovered that an upward migration worm bin system would fit my needs very well. You add food to the bottom tray until it is full and then put on another tray and start adding to it. The worms will leave the bottom tray when they are out of food, leaving behind nutrient-rich compost. You can pull that tray out and use the compost while the worms are happily working in the next tray. I haven’t needed a second tray yet, but the Worm Factory 360 that I am using fits my space and aesthetic needs perfectly and has required very little work on my part.

Another option that I originally thought might work for an urban composter is the Bokaski method. However it also needs to be filled up and then left alone for 10 days or so, leaving you in the same boat as the Envirocycle Composter. I also realized that Bokashi doesn’t complete the composting process, but requires being spread around on the ground to finish.

Of course the option that I am still considering is the Naturemill Composter. It requires a little bit of electricity as it is automatic, but otherwise seems like a great idea for an urban composter. It’s small, can be used in your kitchen and even works on meat and dairy. It’s fast and you can keep adding to it all the time and then empty the compost tray at the bottom when it’s ready. The biggest downside is that it’s pretty expensive. The reviews on the older models are mixed with then negative reviews usually reflecting problems issues with the hardware itself. I’m waiting to see how the reviews are for the newly released Naturemill Plus XE and Naturmill Pro XE.

I’ll continue my search for the best urban composter and maybe someday there will be something that qualifies for my definition of “urban compost tumbler”. For now, I’m happy with my choice of the Worm Factory 360 even though I never would have imagined having worms in my life. In truth, you barely know they are there.

photo credit: We-Present: Travel-UggBoy-The-Photographer!

Related Home Composter entries:

1. Envirocycle Composter Before I decided to buy the Worm Factory 360, I...
2. Adding a Worm Tray to My Worm Factory 360 Today I am adding a worm tray to my Worm...
3. Worm Factory 360 – Time for Another Tray? As the worm tray in my Worm Factory 360 has...
4. Learning From My Worm Bins This week, I’ve been learning from my worm bins. Maybe...
5. A Look at the Envirocycle Backyard Compost Tumbler One of the composters that I got to see during...

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