Pros and Cons of Tumbler Composting

Pros and Cons of Tumbler Composting discusses some of the benefits and challenges of this form of composting.

Tumbler systems use some of the composting elements listed in the 8 Composting Methods; especially a combination of carbon and nitrogen, air, water and vegetable scraps (optional). The pros and cons are intermingled because what might be a pro to one person is a con to someone else. This method brings with it the same challenges as the open air method, plus other different challenges.

Tumblers require

Monitoring
Watering
Turning
Emptying
Spreading

Worms are often added which may be futile as they die if the temperature heats up
The right combination of matter is critical or the tumbler can turn into a big smelly slushy mess or hard lump
Two are required – while one is decomposing a second one is being filled
Too much turning is no good while too little turning is equally as bad
Only certain foods can be added and it takes a long time to decompose
It requires a large amount of green waste to obtain only a small amount of compost
It requires ongoing heavy work that some people find too hard
Having said that – it is great exercise for some people
It is visible and takes up space in your garden especially if you have two
Irregular turning may cause clumping of contents into a big blob, making it extremely difficult to turn and empty.
If not insulated they will only work in summer
If they get infested with the Soldier fly it can be unpleasant for some people when they open the door and all the flies fly out at them. Same as in a worm farm
The Soldier Flies can make it smell putrid
Great for your green waste but too much won’t fit depending on the size
You do need to chop up your green waste to fit in some styles and to decompose quicker
If you don’t turn them the acid produced from food waste can rot out the bottom especially if it is made of metal. A common problem when people forget to turn them
They have been known to smell terrible depending on what you put in them
You would have to monitor the heat generated inside much like the open air method
Small ones can be purchased instead of big ones which can, therefore, save on space
Double ones can be purchased so you can rotate filling them and resting one.
Produces beautiful compost after it has sat for a few months
You can’t put ALL your kitchen waste in these systems. Only fruit and veg, paper or cardboard
If you do none of these things and just toss your waste in and let it sit and decompose slowly it will work, but it will take a long time and hard to eventually turn and empty
Much like the open air method, you need two to three depending on the amount of waste you have for them to work efficiently.