Lifetime Rotating Composter

I bought this product several years ago and have produced hundreds of gallons of compost in it. Everything still works very well even when loaded full with heavy, damp compost. I am ready to buy a second one. There is a little rust on some of the hinges and metal parts but its 5-7 years old and looks like it will last another 5-7 years.

Like other reviews here, all of the internal metal parts are completely rusted rendering this composter useless within 5 years.

Good compost bins. The assembly takes considerably longer than expected, but once that arduous task is complete they work very well

We have an original 80 gallon Lifetime compost tumbler and I really think it's gonna last a lifetime. They even sell replacement parts for the joints and hinges that rust and have to be replaced. They have been out of stock of the original 80 gallon one for years, and we want a second tumbler so one can finish while we add fresh scraps to the new one. We caved and bought this 50 gallon version. We were skeptical when assembling it because it is NOT remotely the same quality as the original. The side plastic pieces that you slide together are obvious weak points, and 2 years into its lifetime and one of these pieces is failing. The latch is also quite wimpy for holding 50 gallons inside, and it's hard to tell which way is closed, so the compost has fallen out on our feet and made an epic mess twice already. Lifetime, PLEASE bring back the 80 gallon original!!! People are willing to pay good money and plenty of it for quality products that do their jobs for 10+ years (and counting!)! This new one will be in a landfill while our original keeps on working.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] We bought this a few years ago and it worked great until a few days ago when it collapsed and the tube the barrels rotate on collapsed. All of the metal parts have significant rust on them and I have been using wd 40 on them since the beginning. The plastic parts are in fair condition and if the metal parts are available I think I could fix it

I bought about four years ago. All of the metal parts in contact with compost have rusted and fallen apart

Fantastic product. I have had this composter for several years. I had some trouble with several of the parts rusting and the company immediately sent me replacement parts at no cost. Excellent service.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] It was a bit of a challenge to put together by myself, but it is very well built and I feel like it will serve me well for years to come. I like that the door comes off and that the barrel locks in place. This make loading and unloading much easier.

Pins break, and inner hardware that controls the lid handle rust very easily. Both within the first year of use Desktop/composter pins.jpeg composter inner door latches.jpeg

Sad the metal bits are such poor quality. We purchased 3, are all doing the same; within 2 years, rusting to the point of not being usable (cannot latch lid to turn). Why didn't they use quality metal parts and just charge a bit more for the thing? I ordered replacement hardware (which I had to pay for and wasn't cheap) but old screws and bolts are so rusty they can't be removed without drilling out broken, rusted bolts and screws, now the handle is messed up and the holes too big for new screws, it is a mess and super frustrating. Cross bar is rusting and flaking big chunks of rusted metal into my compost, what are they thinking? I got one of our 3 units repaired and 5 months later new hardware is rusty again. :(

I purchased this product some years ago. It is one of the more expensive composters. If you want a product that will be functional and great to operate for 6 months to a year you have found it. But if you are expecting one that will continue to be functional for an extended period of time look elsewhere. The metal materials rust and cannot be turned due to corrosion. I continue to use but can no longer rotate bins.

Purchased this for our new garden. Can’t wait to start to fill it up with organic compost.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I bought two of these units 2nd hand. They seem to be great units except for the hardware inside. ( Handle opening bar and assembly) Hopefully the new ones handle's are made of stainless steel because all the hardware inside rusts very badly from all their moisture emitted and stops functioning...

We bought this composter and its high quality materials. Instructions for assembly were a bit confusing as the diagrams were not always clear and steps not always in order.

Lifetime for plastic parts, all the metal parts will corrode or rust very quickly. I bought this lifetime composter after my last one last several years and no replacement products offered. This was the new and improved version of the one I had and it's been nothing but junk since the get go. The metal locking mechanism started to show since of corrosion very earlier on. The bell crank and arms have not seized up and you can not move the handle. The product should come with a plastic tube through the middle and stainless hardware they should also design it so you can fit a wheelbarrow.

I have this model and it worked great for a couple of years but unfortunately now the gears are rusting and one of the doors gears are completely seized up so that one side is unusable.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I have two of these compost tumblers. Assembly is a little more involved than I expected and requires a little practical nous. Once assembled it is a good product which I have used for a couple of seasons. My main complaint is that metal parts - hinges, latches, etc, are prone to corrosion and given the environment of a compost tumbler, I would have thought this to be a fitness-for-purpose issue. Assembly and operation instructions should be clear that tumbler should NOT be left with latch/hinges downward, and that metal parts be treated with a water resistant corrosion inhibitor on assembly and each season. That said, aftersales service has been excellent with Lifetime sending out replacement hinges and latches (I am in Australia).

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I want to love this - yet, we are having similar issues as related here about the closing mechanism. Rusted and we need to use WD-40 almost weekly.... ugh.

Worked well for 2 years but just isn't built to last much longer than that. Now at 3 years, the panels don't stay together, which also means the door doesn't stay shut. Not durable.

What genius designed a composter with a metal latch inside that gets food waste on it, which causes it to rust and makes it impossible to open and close properly?! Don’t buy this product if you actually want to use it, i.e. be able to open it and close it, a necessary function of a composting bin.