compost tumblers | Crazy About Compost

Vertex Composter Eco Tumbler Review

Have you seen one of these before? I was recently asked a few times for my opinion on this thing. It's called the Vertex Eco Tumbler and it looks to be the cheapest possible compost tumbler you can buy. So does the old adage "you get what you pay for" apply here? Is this the best option for the compost tumbler curious? Without seeing one in person it's hard to say, but here's my observations of the unit: -Cost! They're under $100, which makes it the cheapest compost tumbler. -Looking at the reviews on Amazon, it looks like the main issue people have is with its assembly. Therefore, if you like a challenge this shouldn't be a problem. However, assembly issues may allude to cheap and/or shoddy manufacturing. -I think…

Lifetime Compost Tumbler Review

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgmrNy4qxv0 Recently I was asked my opinion on the Lifetime Compost Tumbler. I hadn't heard of it before, but apparently it resides at a number of big box stores and is sold for as little as $100. You get what you pay for, right? My favorite thing to do is look at customer reviews on Amazon... in this regard, it appears that it's a pain in the butt to assemble. I'm somewhat surprised as it doesn't look that complicated. What do I like about it? The metal hinges and ergonomic grips look pretty nice. In the above video, I like how they casually prop up the door against the shed in the background. This doesn't make sense to me, as it has a pin on the side (very clever) to…

Just How Important Are Biodegradable Plastics?

It seems like over the last year or two, all the major companies have been jumping on board not only with a "green" product line, but with biodegradable plastics. I'd like to focus on the three major food service items that have been getting makeovers: cups, utensils and trash bags. To narrow it further, forget about items listed simply as "degradable"... what isn't? This is deceptive. "Biodegradable plastics" or "compostable plastics" that will completely compost in a commercial compost facility are what to look for. PLA (polylactic acid) is one of the most common corn based plastics used. Are they worth it? I'm not so sure. Assuming they're non-toxic and biodegrading as described, most people will not be able to compost these items in their backyard piles. This instantly reminds…