Envirocycle Composter - Review of the Envirocycle Compost Tumbler

The Envirocycle composter is one of the more popular compost tumbler designs. It’s two main advantages are that it is relatively inexpensive for a tumbler, and the base of the tumbler will collect a “compost tea” that can be used as a fertilizer before the compost is actually finished.

The manufacturer lists these main features:
The unique rolling and mixing action of the Envirocycle Composter/ComposTeamaker helps it produce quality compost more quickly and easily than standard composters. No more messing digging with a dirty shovel to turn the compost pile; simply give the drum a few turns and your compost remains well mixed and aerated, producing clean, sweet-smelling, fully decomposed compost. The Envirocycle Composter/ComposTeamaker also makes ‘compost tea’, a rich organic liquid plant food highly valued by gardeners and farmers. Up to 5 gallons of this nutrient-rich tea is collected in the unique base of the composter. The compost drum is indented for easy gripping and rolling. A lockable lid prevents access to the compost by small animals and rodents. The small size and distinctive design suits today’s urban lifestyles and fits perfectly on balcony or patio.

As with any bin or tumbler, one of the biggest problems is that since they make the compost in batches, at some point you have to store the new material or have a second composter at work while the first batch finishes “cooking.”

Because it’s totally contained, there are few problems with rodents and other visitors. Turn it once a day or sow and in 4-6 weeks you can have a batch of finished compost. As with any of the enclosed composters, be sure to watch the carbon content of the pile. If you only put in green materials like grass clippings your’s find it heats up too much and the pile will become a slimy smelly mess. It’s simple enough to throw in some dead leaves or wood clippings to temper the pile.



Since the drum is removable, it overcomes the problem of unloading the finished compost. Normally for other composters this is done by emptying the compost into a wheelbarrow, and carting it to the place you want it. With the Envirocycle, you can push it off the base and roll it to where you want your finished compost.

The rollers in the base are intended to make the rotation of the tumbler simpler. Keep in mind that any tumbler design can make it “easier” to rotate, but there still can be some work to turn them. As with any unit, if you have too much weight (like overly wet composting material) even with the rollers it can be tough to get it to rotate. But the rotation or the turning of the composting material is one key to accelerating the composting in a tumbler. And you occasionally may have to open it up to break up the material. And like nay composter, you need to keep a decent ratio of carbon to nitrogen materials. Don’t expect to get away with just kitchen waste in any composter unless you use one of the kitchen composters.

Compost Tea

One of the big features advertised with the Envirocycle is the fact that it collects up to 5 gallons of “compost tea” in the base of the composter that you can take and use as a liquid fertilizer. Actually, to be specific it’s not true compost tea, but a compost leachate instead. You can read more on the difference between the two at Wikipedia, where there are references to more information as well. The bottom line is that you need to be careful about where and what strength you use this leachate since it is not composed of completely composted organic matter, but has run through compost pile that is still working, and will potentially be the result of anaerobic conditions. But generally the use will improve the condition of your soil.

It is possible to overflow the base if you are using a lot of wetter materials to be composted, like some food scraps. Because of this you want to take care if you try to keep it indoors in someplace like a garage or a basement.

Overall, this is a good value in a tumbling composter. And the Envirocycle can be found for around $140, which is actually cheaper than some non rotating bins. Be sure to check the shipping costs when buying, as the shipping costs vary from zero to about $35, so if you are shopping for the cheapest vendor take that into account.

Check out the reviews on Amazon, they are generally favorable.