FCMP Outdoor Heavy Duty 37 Gallon 8 Sided Steel Composter, Black

This composter arrived three days early in secure packaging. I was very pleased with the product; the instructions were easy to read and featured clear diagrams. It was designed for simple assembly, and it took me—a 71-year-old—less than three hours to put together. The dual chambers are a generous size, and the barrel rotates smoothly with minimal effort. I’m looking forward to using the natural compost in my vegetable and flower gardens next spring. I previously owned a different composter that used a crank to spin it, but it constantly got stuck and was very difficult to turn, which led me to get rid of it. This product does not require a crank, and the tumbler is easily turned by hand. Very pleased with my purchase!

I bought this unit as "used, in very good condition" from Amazon Warehouse. As far as I can tell when received, it was never actually used. Someone appears to have taken it out of the box and then returned. All the parts were in there, although as I was assembling it, I discovered that two panels were broken. More on this later. The unit is reasonably easy to assemble once you figure out the somewhat cryptic instructions. To be fair, the skimpy instruction manual refers you to a video on the web site which I assume shows the assembly process in greater detail. I didn't look at it, and after a short while, I figured out the right way to put it together. Be warned that there are lots of screws to place. Lots! Also, it is very easy to assemble the supporting bars in the wrong order, and again the instructions are not terribly clear in the manual. Other than that the assembly process itself is not too hard. Once I got the unit together, I found that the composter stands sturdily enough,and seems to be working. Mine will probably need at least two to four weeks more before it produces anything recognizable as soil, but there's certainly activity taking place in there. It's also a lot less messy than my original standing square-box composter. Now, regarding the pannels, I wrote to the manufacture's support address explaining the situation, and asking whether they could send replacement panels. Remember that I got the unit as "used" from Amazon Warehouse, and so I thought there might be a chance that they could refuse to honor the warranty, in which case I more than half expected that I would have to return the whole thing back to Amazon. I was very happily surprised when they replied within a day, letting me know they were shipping the replacement panels. However, I was then further happily shocked when the panels arrived (plus the whole set of screws as well!) within two days, to Puerto Rico! (normal shipping for most of the stuff I buy only usually takes at lest 5-7 business days! I am happy with the composter, and I am extremely happy with the customer service. The instructions could definitely used some improvement.

After two years of near daily use for a busy household that produces a lot of kitchen scraps, I can say I'm very happy with this purchase. Having two sides to the composter allows you to fill one side while the other composts/breaks down. After two years outdoors, the plastic is in good condition (just don't try to open it with a hammer in the winter, our top broke that way...user error!). If it's frozen shut or iced over, we now put our compost in a bucket in the garage until we get a thaw and can open the composter back up without risking breaking the frozen/brittle plastic. I've had no rust on this, and it has stood up really well considering the extreme temperatures we get. When the composter is completely full, it does take some strength the turn it. However, I'm a smaller woman and I still can turn it as needed, I just get a nice workout. So it's definitely not impossible, just a little heavy when full as expected. The sliding doors have been a little disappointing for a couple of reasons. First off, you have to take the entire slider off (opening both chambers) when you need to empty it by rotating the opening towards the ground, otherwise if it's only half open the slider will prevent you from rotating it all the way towards the ground (see my video for an example if this is confusing). For this reason, instead of dumping the compost out like I hoped, I have to shovel it out with a small spade that fits in the opening, which takes a long time and isn't exactly a fun task. It would be much better if there were two sliders, one for each opening, which would have fixed this problem. The second disappointment in the slider is that it is not critter proof. In fact, most mornings I find it open and parts of my compost strewn about on the ground. I'm not sure what's getting into it, but I'm guessing it's racoons. Whatever it is doesn't seem to have a problem opening the slider up. Other than those two notes, this has been a great buy and has produced great compost for us.

***Updated Review - July 2025*** I've had this compost bin for almost a year now and would highly recommend it. Not only has it solved all of my night time critter problems which my previous composting system had but it is neat, easy to use and for me, fun to rotate:) Over the past year, I have emptied rich compost from the bin several times with ease by spreading a large garbage bag (right off the roll and still flat) under the bin. I then rotate the bin so that the door is at the bottom and slide it open on the side of the bin I want to empty. Once the compost has fallen out onto the garbage bag, I slide the door closed, grab the 4 corners of the garbage bag and carry it to my garden. It really couldn't be easier! In terms of producing compost, this rotating bin does a great job. It is important to have a mixture of ingredients that include a balance of 'greens' (such as vegetable peels, egg shells, fresh grass clippings, etc) and 'browns' (such as dried leaves, shredded cardboard, egg cartons). If the mixture is too dry, it will take a long time to compost. If the mixture is too wet, it will have an unpleasant odor. With the right balance and with warm temperatures, the mixture composts in about 3 weeks. ***Original Review - August 2024*** I was looking for a compost bin that would not attract any of the wildlife in our area and I'm happy to have found the perfect bin! My next door neighbor has been using the same type of bin for a couple of years and highly recommended it to me. For years now, I've been composting successfully directly in a shallow pit in my yard. Recently, I noticed that the top of the compost pile was occasionally being disturbed and pulled apart by night time critters. So it was time for me to either stop composting (which I did temporarily) or find a sealed system. This FCMP tumbling composter was the answer! This bin is completely sealed except for some tiny venting holes which bring in oxygen but also allow excess moisture to drip out. The bin is designed very well for tumbling which I know is getting spun around a bit too frequently at the moment - out of sheer excitement. The size of this compost bin is just right for a family of 3-5. I love the dual compartments which allow for one side to break down into compost while the other side is being filled up on a regular basis with food and yard waste. After reading other user's comments, my son and I were careful to follow the assembly steps and everything went very smoothly. Since I've had the bin for less than a month, I can't speak about its ability to turn food and yard scraps into finished compost because it is still too early. I'm currently still in the process of filling up 1 of the 2 compartments. I am pretty confident that once the contents of this compartment are 4 inches from the top, it will take about 2-4 weeks to completely break down. I have noticed a few insects like fruit flies in the bin whenever I open it to add more material but that is normal. Other than that, there aren't an other insects or flies that hang around. There is also no odor at all which is a huge bonus! Overall, I highly recommend this tumbling compost bin.

I read them all and basically it all has to do with the eternal "not my fault, it's a piece if junk !" : easier to blame the item. It's an incredibly solid machine and very clever. The assembly is time consuming but IF you were to pay for it to come in one piece it would cost a fortune. WARNING: You shouldn't have kids around while you put it together. ..nasty words will fly out of your mouth. 1●●Be certain you make sure the vents face up when you start. 2●●The FIRST PANEL goes into place to the right of that first space and then continue one at a tine. 3●●● Most important AND frustrating, make sure the center separator fits in the panel grooves or you will have to start over. 4●●The two long screws are for the shafts to secure to the legs. It is a great machine !! SECOND UNIT: Learned a lot from the first. Still the best Composter for any money. I wanted to address the water in the compost mix issue. Each panel has tabs at the top to fit into guide holes in the previous panel. IF each panel tab IS NOT inserted into these guide holes, they in turn become weeping holes which guide rain water in. Personally l also opted for using 100% silicone putty at each panel joint...little extra for huge return. THE MAIN TOP is about the partition wall. With the second unit l decided l didn't need the composter to be divided into two halves. It sounds good on paper but l can load our new unit with no divider, faster with no problem. PLUS, the partition wall is NOT a structural entity. It can be left out which also greatly facilitates assembly. In fact l even cut away the dividing bar at the door opening to make access easier both at loading time and emptying the compost when done. This machine is designed to end up rigid as a tank. Once you made it as waterproof as possible you will not have any weight problem. It's like any other gardener project where you learn new tricks as you go. THIS has been a great addition to having a healthy garden growth without chemicals.

Needed to find a more accessible compost bin. Our large compost bin will still be used for yard waste, etc but it's too hard to turn the materials deep down. Have been interested in compost tumblers that meet these criteria: made in America or Canada, tough enough for northern winters, discourages wildlife access, large enough to heat up the materials to form compost, easy to fill and empty, not too heavy for a senior to move. This composter is Canadian which I trust much more than a Chinese built unit. Canadians know winter and this composter appears solid. First, ignore the reviews stating this compost tumbler is difficult to put together. 68+ lady here, and it's not hard at all. Just takes time. As others suggest, watch a few videos on the assembly and you are good to go. I used a Phillips screwdriver, pliers. The assembly took about an hour but I took my time. Hint: if you assemble this indoors as I did, use the box to cover your floor/carpet. The support stand width is about 28" across at the bottom, not 24". Be careful to assemble the stand pieces correctly. There are two longer bolts...set these aside as they are for securing the main bar to the stand, one on each end. The black plastic tube covering the main steel bar comes in one piece, not two as shown in some assembly videos. After placing the two end pieces with the separator in-between onto the bar (they flop all over and slide during this step), secure the bar onto the stand with the two longest bolts. Then you are ready to place and attach the panels, one at a time, securing each panel as you go. The company provided a few extra bolts and nuts which is appreciated. Be sure to watch a couple videos as you need to have the end panels with the vents exactly the same, ie be sure the vents are in line. If the vents are not lined up the same, panels assembly will not work. Each panel fits only one way and snaps into place, but you must bolt them into place securely. They snap into place as an assistance with assembly. Be careful to tighten the bolts snug but don't over tighten as you may crack the panel. Panels are secured with the included nuts and bolts. Fit the separation panel into the slots built into the panels as you go. This takes a little work but I did fine even with arthritic hands. One big plus is the large sliding cover. It slides either way and can easily be taken off for access to the interior. This is much better than two separate small covers. Plenty of room to dump a pail of vegetable waste without spillage. Seems like a well built composter. The plastic is heavy duty, thick. More manageable than the giant bin we've used for decades. We don't have bears in our area, just the regular curious wildlife. Likely, the critters won't be interested in the composter. Even if they are, it will take work to chew it or open it. We are looking forward to years of composting with this tumbler.

I've had this compost bin for almost 2 months after thorough research on my options. It is serving a 2 person household and is kept in the kitchen garden area visible to us and our guests. The quality of the product is okay. The plastic it not particularly sturdy and the overall assembly was tedious and required great patience. It wasn't difficult but once assembled, if you realize something is slightly off alignment, there is no correcting it. I've had a particularly hard time achieving a balance of inputs to make the bin effective and it appears as though a limited amount has broken down at this point. It could be user error, so time will tell (I'll update my post). Somehow, we've managed to already fill one side and have moved on to the next side. We're trying to correct the imbalance (and horrible odor) because it is filled with insects. Otherwise, it is a nice size for being compact and easy to rotate for the most part - just be wary after a rainfall, when you spin it, the insets on the tumbler collect water and debris and will dump all over you. We've been waiting to review it because we weren't sure of our satisfaction with it. I'll update more once it's worth doing. At this point - I wouldn't recommend it to someone who has regular inputs into it because it is lacking the capacity we need for 2 people. Perhaps if our inputs were balanced, it would be breaking down faster... still, I can't imagine it would have the capacity we really need... we'll see. We eat a lot of fresh food so have a notable amount of compost. May be a good option for urban dwellers or single folks. UPDATE: I finally got my balance of inputs accurate. I will stand by my comment that it fills up very quickly. As it breaks down, there are definitely the usual array of insects and sometimes slight odor (although not horrible - again, add more carbon). I find that my shredder for office paper goods provides the best inputs that will readily break down. Even so, when you turn the bin, it does not agitate well and I find myself having to stir it with a stick. Perhaps as I pack my transport container in the house between trips, I should more adequately layer the carbon inputs so it distributes better. I would recommend this and possibly buy another unless something else presented itself.

This is a product that’s actually worth spending the time to write a review. The FCMP IM4000 arrived yesterday in a relatively small box considering the final size of the composter. It was very well packed and all the components were there and in good shape. The plastic panels are not incredibly robust but are well designed and fit together easily. The metal stand appears to use tubing just a wee bit thicker than what was used with beach-chairs of old and may be the eventual weak point, but for the next few years it should be fine. I might put a base underneath to secure the bottom tubes and prevent their anticipated spread and therefore weakening of the structure. If FCMP offered a reasonably priced plastic base to both secure the base tubes and keep them off the dirt, I’d buy it. For a moderately capable DYI’er, assembly was easy and obvious. A 10mm box wrench, a small adjustable wrench, or even basic plyers and a flat screwdriver are all one needs; however, the screws also have a square (Robertson) recess and a SQ1 bit with a ¼” hex-driver makes assembly much easier. The serrated bases on the flanged nuts mean that, with finger tightening of the screw to the nut, there’s probably no need for a wrench or plyers when tightening those screws – the serrations bite into the plastic and the screws easily tighten with possibly just a little pressure applied with your fingers to the nut. The only exception is with the nuts and screws that attach the axel bar to the stand – for those you’ll want wrench or pliers. I did find the on-line instructions to be significantly better than those provided with the product. Just remember that the panel with the slide is the last one to be installed and it attaches to the end cap edges that have 7 vice 4 holes. Also, the chamber divider panel needs to fit within the side panels’ inner slot. The first few panels may be problematic in making sure that the center divider remains in the slots, but as more panels are added, everything lines up and assembly becomes easier. All of this will make much more sense as you look at the parts and start putting things together. Anticipating that grit will eventually make its way into the space between the axel bar and its outer plastic sleeve/tube, I applied a layer of silicone grease (that I happened to have on hand) along the entire length of the axel. I figured that, while the container was empty, this easy bit of pre-maintenance would likely save me some frustration in the future and allow the tumbler to spin much easier. I fumbled and bungled a bit, but it was all together in under an hour. In fact, writing this review is taking longer than putting together the tumbler. The final product could be higher off the ground, making it easier to empty the chambers. Putting a plastic sheet underneath and dumping the contents on that, which is what FCMP recommends, seems lame. I’d much rather put a small wheelbarrow or big bucket underneath. Those are something else that FCMP should market. I did consider the much better built Jora tumbler, but couldn’t justify the significant price difference. I also purchased a compost thermometer and some composter starter. Theoretically, in 2-8 weeks, I'll know if this works as hoped. If so, in the end, the FCMP IM4000 will be good enough.

Delivered much beyond the scheduled date that too after taking up the matter with the CC. Assembling the product is really tough. Look for the marking on the frame for correct allignment ( Could have been printed in the slip) and the holes &buttons on the panels for trouble free fixing. Looks sturdy .No comments for the performance of the product since its just two days.

Several panels were cracked and damaged. Pieces did not fit together well. Overall a poorly constructed piece of garbage. Do not buy!

Quick delivery and easy set up

We've had this composter for 6 weeks now and all our standard compostables are going into it. It is breaking down and getting hot, looking like a rich dark compost soil. We can't believe the weight of garbage this is saving us. Yes, the unit has a lot of parts and takes a while to assemble, but if you take your time it goes together easy. Once built it's sturdy and strong, easy to rotate once full. It hasn't seem to attract any animals, doesn't really smell when closed, and it's nice to keep the food scraps away from rodents, a usual problem with traditional ground based compost piles. Happy with product and even happier it's Canadian made!

I ordered the first one and took sometime in fixing duo to lost of screws so i would recommend to use an electric screw driver. But worth it they used good materials in this compost. The size is good but what i did i removed the middle partition so that it will be bigger. I even ordered 2 more after i tried the first one. Price is reasonable for such quality. 👍