Achla CMP-05 Spinning Horizontal Composter
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A popular compost tumbler model that sells for about $209.99, the Achla CMP-05 Spinning Horizontal Compost tumbler is about the height of a tall 4-year-old - 36 inches - and is reportedly very easy to turn.
Made from 100-percent recycled plastic, the sliding door on the Achla CMP-05 Spinning Horizontal Compost tumbler is secure enough to prevent wandering critters from accessing the composting material that's baking inside.
This compost tumbler holds 7 cubic feet of composting material and sits securely on the rolled-metal stand that it comes with. The spinning bar, along the with strategically placed ridges inside the Achla CMP-05 Spinning Horizontal Compost tumbler, manage to easily break up chunks of composting material.
While the unit is relatively easy to put together and can be done in about 15 minutes with a wrench and a screwdriver, a second person could come in handy when it comes time to attach the Achla CMP-05's main composting container to the legs.
From the manufacturer:
Gardeners have long understood the importance of composting. It provides a cheap way to convert kitchen scraps and garden waste into food for microorganisms. They, in turn, enrich the soil with healthy nutrients which function as fertilizer for plants. Made from recycled plastic. 7 cubic feet capacity. Minimizes landfill waste. Rodent proof. Features easy access sliding door. Mixing fins break up clumps.
The Achla CMP-05 Spinning Horizontal Compost tumbler is a solid, no-nonsense product that does exactly what it says, but there have been some problems reported with the shipping of this compost tumbler. It has been reported that the stand parts have arrived unsecured, just tossed into the container. Coming in at a solid 37 pounds of shipping weight, Achla needs to make sure that their products are shipped a bit more securely.
6 Comments
November 2nd, 2008 at 5:02 am
This is my beginning step into composting so I can’t attest for the output yet.
This is the best price I have seen for a spinning composter. It’s pretty solid and I was in a position to put it together myself in about fifteen minutes ( just wanted a wrench and a screwdriver ). A 2nd person could be handy when attaching the composter to the legs. The doorway slides simply but is also a snug fit and the composter is straightforward to spin. It’s made of pretty solid plastic without much airholes punched througout. When this one fills up we’ll possibly order a 2nd one so that the first can finish its work.
November 4th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
We were excited to receive the composter, however, the legs (packed inside the barrel) were loose because the packing material (wrap and ties) was already cut, removed and tossed back inside the barrel. This permitted them to rattle around inside. Upon examination, some of the leg pieces were worn and corroded/rusted. We did not appreciate receiving a used product, especially in this condition. The barrel did appear to be new. Upon contacting the manufacturer (Achla), they stated they could not replace these parts because they did not know how Amazon was obtaining their products. It is difficult to rate the item because we never got a chance to use it. It would probably have worked as advertised, however, we ordered a new item, not a worn item. We would not order from this supplier again.
November 12th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I purchased a composting bin a few years back, utterly oblivious to what is concerned in composting. Toss stuff in and it “magically” turns to compost.
Compost must be turned, I later learned. So that the bin was emptied and has been sitting in my yard for some time as it doesn’t help simply turning the compost ( or turning it at all for that matter ). I came across turning, tumbling, and spinning composters and selected this one. I transferred the stuff I had been tossing in a trash can ( in the hope of the “magic” occuring ) into this composter. It has a ways to go, and I have more learning to do on the topic, but this composter has made the job very easy–almost not a “job” at all. I could more than likely continue composting for years to come because this composter makes it very simple and clean.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:05 am
Metal finish on sections of composter legs has been damaged in cargo as the pieces were banging around unprotected inside the drum. There wasn’t any protecting covering or packing to guard them.
I have approached Amazon to get a replacement shipped.
October 25th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
I just got my horizontal composter this October 2009 and I decided to start using it anyway even though the weather is getting colder. After all, the instruction said I can re-start an inactive batch (that sat in the bin during fall and winter) in the spring. Anyway, it was fairly easy to assemble. I just layed the bin down on the ground and attached the legs to it that way so I didn’t have to struggle. And moving it around while it was empty was just as easy. It’s just like pushing a wheel-barrow with the bin as the wheel. I’m looking forward to making my first batch of compost.
February 28th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
I have owned the Achla CMP-05 spinning composter as depicted above since last spring. I added materials and kitchen waste over this time, and even added one of the commercial products to speed up composting. I must mention that we live in Arizona, but when winter came and our day time temperature are always around 60 plus, this composter has turned into a soggy, stinking mess and I have yet to take anything out. I had a different composter before that always worked, but rats ate right through it and I got rid of it. Now since it is getting warmer tiny flies are all over the bin, all over the column next to the bin and inside it looks wet and soggy, yet no water has been added. I wrote to the company in the beginning because I didn’t feel there was enough aeration, yet they never replied to my question. I regret getting it and am not certain I won’t put it to the curb. I’d never order their product again based on the fact that they didn’t answer my email.