Redmon Outdoor Compost Bin with Lift Off Lid, 4-Door Access & Vent Holes, 65 Gallon, Black - Composting Bin Container for Kitchen Food Waste Recycling

I have had the opportunity to experience different types of composters. I had a tumbler which wasn't effective for my needs. I had enough property that I had a Geobin which I followed a review to create a 'tent' over and loved it. i downsized to a home that didn't have an area to utilize that design. I purchased 2 worm towers and really like them, though they require more care and some items like lemons in quantity aren't favorable. So I have been considering this bin for many months. I am so glad I made the investment. I will now give some ideas for those who like me are unable to secure the bin in the ground. I have a fenced gravel parking area on the side of my house. Having lived where rodents were an issue, I will share what I did on the geobin and with this one. I scraped the gravel away and set the base in place. On the bottom I bent and folder corners up sides several inches of rust proof wire mesh (with tiny openings you might use for soil sifting) I place 4 12X12 concrete pavers over the wire, leaving tiny space between each paver so that worms can crawl up through, but not mice. I purchased a bag of compost top soil and poured inside. the pavers will not interfere with turning with whatever tool you use. I have a short handled shovel that works well. I did add some of the worms from one of my worm bins, but there are also compost starter products. I don't have trees to add yard debris, so I purchased on amazon the bonsaii 12-sheet cross-cut paper shredder. I searched specifically for a cardboard shredder and a review there sold me. I purchased it along with some shredder lubricant sheets because I knew the shredder was going to be used a lot. So I shredded normal torn cardboard boxes for my brown material. After all is damp and mixed, I lay some newspaper over the top and tucked into the corners.As for the doors on the bin, I put 12X12 concrete pavers up against them. Yes, it took a little work to put what I wanted together, but it has been a breeze to use. No sign of rodent activity, although I know the neighbors have them. It's important to turn the compost regularly. I do it at minimum every other day. Manual aeration keeps it healthy. Even my worms in the towers do well with regular aeration. I love my worm towers, but this compost bin is going to be a lot less work.It is sturdy. perfect size in height and volume, the lid fits securely but is easy to open and remove. And I love the fact that I'm not sending all the unused scraps of produce to the dump. Happy composting

So far, so good. I have been using this for about 2 months and it seems great. It was easy to assemble and will hold a LOT of compost material. I was worried about the smell, but it has been fine. I also worried it would attract critters, but so far it hasn't. I tucked it into a discreet space in my yard. When I open the bin, there are fruit flies in it, but that is to be expected. The sturdiness of the bin is good, is thick, feels like it will hold up well. I'm excited to be able to use my compost material!

I've been looking forward to ordering a real compost bin (you know you're an adult when you look forward to things like this!). We've used makeshift bins in the past, but with the purchase of a new home with plenty of yard space, it was time to move up to a "real" bin. After searching Amazon for days, I was down to this bin or one that rotates. I liked the idea of not having to manually turn a pile of compost, but then I read up on additional cons that comes with tumblers - higher cost, slower compost times unless you have dual bins, lack of critters like worms that help the process along. I decided it wasn't worth the additional expense to get a tumbler that would solve some of these differences, so we went with this. The unit was easy to assemble and is plenty big. The doors on the bottom will make for easy access to finished compost while we continue to add to the top. Air circulation is good, and there is no foul odor (which there shouldn't be in a well balanced bin).The only thing that I would like to see improved is the stakes/tabs/whatever you want to call them on the bottom of the bin. It's meant for you to push the bin down so the little plastic stakes go into the ground and help stabilize the unit. Try as we might, it wasn't happening on our lawn. Perhaps if we'd tried after a good rain when the ground was softer, we would have been successful. As it was, we accidentally broke some off. My husband ended up just breaking the rest off so the bin would sit level. We started quickly adding to the bin, and now there is plenty of material in there stabilizing the unit that we have zero concerns it would ever move. It's already been through some pretty nasty storms without issue, so no worries. Just wish the stakes would have been sturdier. We'll see how it hold up after a couple hot summers, but so far I'm thrilled with it!Side note - get yourself a counter top compost pail. It will significantly improve the convenience of home composting. I can easily move it around the kitchen as I prep to toss my scraps in, and take it out every couple days to add to the pile. So much better than having to go out after every meal!