Are you keeping the material in the composter moist and what proportion of paper are cardboard are you adding? Bulba and I never put paper and cardboard in at all. We've used one of the tumbler composters and it seemed to work okay.

Thanks for your response. I only use a little paper & cardboard (as recommended by Monty Don).As for keeping the contents moist, there are small holes in the barrel and I've been assuming they would allow sufficient moisture to do the trick but it could be that a few drops of rain aren't enough. Thanks again.

I think more moisture, even a can full of water, might help.

Snoopdog with the tumbling composter you are meant to tumble it several times each day. Not sure how that allows the material to get hot enough to compost.

A lot of green compost like grass cuttings will generate heat. This heat is caused by the natural bio-degradation of the matter and the more heat, the faster it breaks down and creates more heat... This thermal reaction will generate a terrific amount of heat, sometimes enough to burn your hand if you put it in the compost.

If you manage to create this, It's like nuclear reaction and has the added advantage that it will kill any weeds in there.

I also think that you need to make the mix wetter - it sounds too dry. Paper can take some time to compost.

... And it might set on fire ;o)

A straightforward way to add moisture, and nitrogen, will be to wee in it, if you can reach. Although I'd probably wait until spring to bother now,

I have had use of a tumbling composter for the last few years and - rubbish!!!! It requires a lot of maintenance including tumbling and adding water regularly. I much prefer a straightforward bin sitting directly on the ground - add garden waste and forget about it.

You took the words right out of my mouth Teadrinker. I used to buy bottles of bio liquid to add to the compost. Apparently it helps to bio-degrade the compost. An old chap that has an allotment told me not to bother with that and to pee on it instead. It worked great, so that's what I do. He also told me that women's pee isn't as good as mens, now whether he was having me on about that one I'm not sure as he was a bit of a joker.

Myron - women's pee is different to mens but it still works - thing is most women arn't able to pee direct into the compost... But they can pee into a bucket a pour that onto the compost! Still works :-)

I realize that women need a bucket MG. I wasn't suggesting that anybody should sit on a rotating composter, that would be dangerous. LOL.

But what a thought,Myron ! lol.a new category for Goy peed in 'ere perhaps ? ....now,back to the composter..as suggested,too much paper etc isn't ideal..a bit of everything is better..and kept moist,not dry,or soggy..The only paper I put in ,are shredded white paper personal documents,it soon rots down..I don't have a rotating Composter,but the filling of it will be the same as for any..