Hey earth muffins! A great way to reduce food waste it to get yourself a compost bin. If you own a house, condo, or apartment with outside space, there is really no reason to not have some sort of bin. When I purchased my house in December, one of the first things I purchased was this compost bin… And I have been using (and loving) it ever since. Today I will be sharing my thoughts on this compost product to convince you all to start using it as well! 😉
What Compost Bin Did I Buy?
After doing a search of all the backyard compost options, I decided on the IM4000 Dual Chamber Tumbling Composter from Amazon (affiliate link). It was the bin with the most reviews (almost 15,000 of them!); so, I figured it had been tried out by many other people. The price point is about $100, with it often being on sale for around $80. Because it isn’t as expensive as other bins, I thought it would be a good place to start since I was new to backyard composting.
What I Love About this Compost Bin
The first pro to any composter is that using one allows you to reduce food waste sent to landfill. This is awesome, as it is much more sustainable to turn your scraps into compost rather than release methane gas at the dump.
The bin also works great! It is super easy to use: just gather your scraps (I typically keep a mason jar in my fridge until it is full), toss into the bin, and spin a few times. The holes along the side allow for airflow and rain to get into the compost… Which helps it breakdown and work its magic. Just make sure to add “browns” (dead leaves, etc.) to your “green” food scraps to ensure it actually turns into compost.
The height and shape of the bin also result in a very durable product. I was worried that animals would get into the bin, but I haven’t had any issues with that! On the first week I started using it, a squirrel took one bite out of it… But he didn’t get very far with the thick plastic! 😅 Ever since then, no other animal has even attempted to get into the composter.
The size is also small enough that it can be hidden in your backyard. Some composters are absolutely huge (and a hideous color). I love that this is a sleek black that can be tucked away into any corner. I personally keep mine behind my garage, which you can’t see from my house and 90% of my yard.
What Could Be Improved
The first con of this product is that it has a lot of pieces and takes time to put together. Many of the Amazon reviews mentioned how difficult it was to construct… Which I 100% disagree with. Sure, there are a ton of pieces and you have to follow the directions/instructional video. But, it isn’t rocket science! Just turn on your favorite TV show and take the time to put it together correctly. 😊
Like all reviews, it is also important to discuss the price. At $80-100, some people might think it is crazy to spend that kind of money when you could just throw your food scraps into the trash. However, I think it is totally worth the price! The bin will last many years and is definitely cheaper than doing a compost subscription service or something like that. Plus, a few extra dollars per year will make a huge difference to Mother Earth!
Overall, I highly recommend checking out the IM4000 compost bin (affiliate link). It is perfect for the beginner composter and is quite easy to use. I add food scraps constantly, and you can see how it is breaking down over time – so cool! As long as you have an hour to put it together, there is really no reason why you shouldn’t get into backyard composting. Do you have a compost bin? Comment below and let me know your thoughts about reducing food waste!
Love,
Jenna ♥
I’m glad you were able to get this put together and it wasn’t as complicated as some of the reviews said! It’s also great that this is super sturdy!