3. The Rolling Wheelie Bin Tumbler with a Push Handle
If you already own a wheeled trash bin, you are most of the way to a compost tumbler. This build leans on the bin’s own wheels and adds a handle so you can tip it back and roll it around the yard instead of lifting anything.
What you need:
- A wheeled bin with a locking lid (a spare one, not your household trash bin)
- Plastic or wooden fins, cut from scrap lumber or a cutting board
- Stainless bolts and washers
- A drill with a 1/4-inch bit
- A length of metal conduit or a wooden dowel for the handle
Time: 60 to 90 minutes. Difficulty: beginner.
The secret to making this work is internal agitation. Bolt two or three angled fins to the inside walls of the bin so that when it rolls, the material gets lifted and folded rather than sliding in one solid lump. Drill a handful of aeration holes near the top of the bin and along the upper sides, keeping the bottom mostly intact so liquid does not drain straight onto your shoes.
Attach your handle to the front lip with a bracket, then simply tip the bin back and roll it a few steps, back and forth, every few days. When the compost is ready, tip the bin forward and dump it straight into a wheelbarrow or onto a tarp.