The Envirocycle Composter by Envirocycle Systems has been around since 1991 and has really changed the whole process of composting. What once was a daunting task that many avoided just due to the nature of the smell, the mess, and the “how-to”, the Envirocycle Composter has now made this task simple and easy!
Here at Compost Soup, we have put together a list of the top 5 tumblers and this list is featured in our post called the “Best Compost Tumbler”. In order to award or list the top 5 tumblers from #1 to #5, we thoroughly combed the Amazon Customer Reviews and we will let actual customers help us decide which composter is the “Best”!
The Envirocycle Compost Tumbler is #1 on the Top 5 Composters List. It has a 4.8-Star Rating out of 5 Stars and it is the highest rated tumbler by actual customers. There were a total of 22 reviews and 19 of those reviews gave the Envirocycle a 5-Star Rating.
Customer Reviews
Envirocycle Composter-How Does It Work?
The Envirocycle Composter makes it easy to start composting by turning your waste into rich compost and compost liquid. Your part is to open the lid, add your waste, close the lid, and then simply rotate the composter to mix the ingredients well! That’s really all there is to it!
Will you need any other mixing tools?
The only other “tools” that you will need to operate the mixing process are your hands! You basically rotate the drum and your hands do not even get dirty!
How long does the decomposition process take with the Envirocycle Compost Maker?
The maturing time of a composting cycle does very and depends on the size of your ingredients and how often you rotate the composter when making compost. Generally, the decomposition process takes about 30 to 40 days. But, if you use smaller ingredients and rotate the composter more often, your decomposition time will be faster!
Envirocycle Composter Product Details:
- Pre-assembled and ready to use
- Constructed mostly of post industrial and post-consumer recycled plastic
- Collects liquid fertilizer known as compost tea through the 3.8 gallon removable base collection feature
- Effortless compost turning through simple drum or barrel rotation
- 7 cu.ft capacity to handle large landscape, garden, and household uses
Envirocycle Composter Video Review:
Here is a video that explains in “visual” format all of the cool product details and benefits:
Envirocycle Compost Tumbler Customer Reviews:
As mentioned above, the Envirocycle Compost Tumbler has received 22+ positive customer reviews. The average customer review has been 5 stars with only two reviews being 4 stars!
We have listed several common “pros” and also the common “cons” here:
Pros:
I didn’t have to assemble anything. Brilliant.
Access spaces are limited so I haven’t had an issue with critters or bugs so far.
Very easy to move. I raked some leaves and rolled the been right off the bass track and across the lawn. Super convenient.
It rotates on its own base, so you don’t need to turn it with a pitchfork or any other tool
The base fills with liquid or compost tea which is useful for house plants and indoor foliage
it’s large enough on the inside to hold plenty of composting material. I rarely fill it completely.
Excellent customer service: I e-mailed the company a couple of weeks ago because somehow, the To the bottom portion has become lost and now the “tea” spills out when it gets full. I offered to buy another If they could send me one. They replied the same day, saying they would send it at no charge. Today I received two free replacement caps in the mail from Envirocycle Systems in Canada!
Cons:
The latch panel requires two hands to open. The hook is very tight. I guess it needs to be type otherwise it my fly open when you spin it but it truly is a pain when I want to add some food scraps. I have to bring them outside, set them down, open the latch, and usually using the handle of the utensil to help me push the hook through to open it. Then I can place the food inside.
It can be a little challenging to get the drum to spin when it’s completely full (especially when full of heavier dropped fruit) but even as a small woman, I can do it.
Ready to Start Composting?
If you want to take advantage of the many benefits of composting, the Envirocycle Composter is a great tool to get you started off on the right foot! It’s simple and easy to use and provide you both rich compost as well as liquid compost. We have scoured the web and have found the best Envirocycle price over at Amazon. They just have that “buying power”…along with perks such as free shipping!
February 26, 2012 at 10:33 pm
This was a very interesting blog and somewhat gross as well. I can only imagine the smell that would come from that thing. I know that compost is great for your plants and flowers but I can get miracle grow and it doesn’t smell nearly as bad. This is an excellent idea because of the environment and the fact that it will help a great deal to not have this stuff in the landfills.
February 28, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Hi Cathy, I guess you could consider it a “smelly” topic! But, the Envirocycle Composter is constructed in such a way that the smell really isn’t that bad. It’s a completely “closed” tumbler that doesn’t let anything in, like cats and such, and it doesn’t let the “smell” out! Yes, it’s great for our environment, i.e. landfill reduction, as well as for your garden, plants, and landscaping!
February 27, 2012 at 6:39 am
The Envirocycle seems to be really cool. Just where have you determined the top price for the product? Additionally, have you found any shop that has totally free shipping charges due to the fact it really is such a sizeable piece to be sending by means of the mail! Thanks for the overview and the video clip on top of that.
February 28, 2012 at 9:40 pm
Ricardo, the Envirocycle Composter is not too expensive and the best price that we have seen is over at Amazon. They have a lot of buying power and they always offer discounted prices. They also have free shipping with most of their products as well, but this does vary. I do know that they have a “membership” that offers free shipping.
February 27, 2012 at 6:49 am
This is an interesting product. It doesn’t appear to have any electrical mechanisms or complex contraptions. Who would have thought such a simple invention could have such a convenient function. It makes the job of those who decide to use compost much easier and cleaner. When you have this product, this task might not seem like such a chore anymore. You might even be able to get the wife to want to help you out.
February 29, 2012 at 6:37 am
Thanks for the evaluation about the Envirocycle Composter. I am considering buying one and so I seen in your current evaluation that you only show pictures of the black colored type. Have you any idea what is the difference between that one and the one at Amazon that is tan? Do you find it merely volume?
March 2, 2012 at 4:57 am
Hi Rob, there is a “junior” model of the Envirocycle Composter and both are available through Amazon. There is a volume difference. The junior model weighs about 13 pounds with product dimensions of: 18.5 x 18 x 20.5 inches ; 10.5 pounds. The larger black composter weighs about 24 pounds and composts 7 cu ft.
March 1, 2012 at 6:37 am
I’m also contemplating about purchasing an Envirocycle and maybe purchasing 2 units so that I can have a continuous supply of compost. Do you have any idea if it shows up with any type of guide or should I purchase a book on composting?
March 13, 2012 at 8:26 pm
Penbersonella, the Envirocycle Composter does come with a FAQ and guide book to help you start using the tumbler. It very thorough, so I don’t think you would need to buy a book unless you want to just learn more about how composting works, etc.
March 2, 2012 at 7:15 pm
My yard is like clay and we can’t even grow grass. If I were to till up the soil the best I can and mix compost in with it would you be able to grow grass then? I have tried everything I know except compost so I thought what would it hurt to give it a try. And in step two on you video “collecting brown is one of those things shown newspaper?
March 13, 2012 at 8:34 pm
Hi Dennis…compost will help enrich any type of soil. Just make sure your compost is fully decomposed and ready to be mixed in with the clay soil you have. Yes, a “brown” can be shredded newspaper!
March 4, 2012 at 9:35 pm
I watched the video you have in your blog for the envirocycle composter and I have to admit it looks very easy to use. How often should you spin it like that to mix up the garbage? Is there ever a reason that you would need one that is bigger than this? I have also seen the other composters that you have blogs on and I like the idea of the tumbler.
March 16, 2012 at 1:20 am
Donald, the Envirocycle Tumbler comes with complete instructions and guide on how often to turn to the tumbler, what ingredients to add, etc. The tumbler pictured is their largest size. They also have a “Jr.” model for those folks who live in apartments, etc.
March 5, 2012 at 3:58 pm
I have been researching the various contraptions for creating compost and there are a few things I am left wondering. Is there any advantage to having a container such as this one, which rotates, over the models that just sit there and have a lower door opening to scoop out the compost? Is this rotating model made for the kitchen? Or is the smell of compost simply not meant to be kept indoors at all?
March 16, 2012 at 1:26 am
The advantage of the Envirocycle Composter is the fact that it “tumbles” or turns. This means you do not have to mix or aerate your own compost, you just simply rotate the barrel! This model is meant for outdoors, but it should not produce a bad smell if you mix and add the proper ingredients and in the proper ratios from your “browns” and “greens”!
March 6, 2012 at 3:39 pm
This seems like a very popular composter, I have seen a lot of reviews for this one and they all seem to like the fact that you can tumble it and keep the compost stirred up easily. Is that something you really need to do? I noticed on a few of your other composters that you don’t stir them so I was wondering if it is better or even necessary to do that.
March 16, 2012 at 1:28 am
Deborah, decomposition will happen whether you “turn” your composting material or not! It’s just natural! But, folks who want to speed up their composting efforts do so by turning or aerating their composting matter. The Envirocycle Composter does this for you by simply turning the barrel!
March 7, 2012 at 3:30 pm
I have seen a lot of reviews for this composter and they all seem to like the fact that you can tumble it and keep the compost stirred up easily. Is this one the only one that has this option? I noticed on the Aerobin 400 that you don’t stir it at all. Is that because of the system inside that cooks it evenly? What are you supposed to do with that indoor one?
March 8, 2012 at 10:31 pm
Thelma, the Aerobin is more of a “bin-sytle” composter and the Envirocycle is a “tumbler-style” composter. There are also other models on our blog that are tumblers. You can find them under the “Compost Tumbler” Category. Watch the video on the Aeorbin to see how it works in comparison to the Envirocycle Composter.