Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
General Questions concerning the UCTs
How long does it take to make compost?
What is the differences between the UCT-9 & UCT-7?
How easy is the UCT to turn?
Can I buy the UCT locally? (Do you have distributors?)
Do you ship outside the U.S.?
Do you have a catalog?
Can I put the UCT indoors?
Can I leave the UCT outside all winter?
What kind of Guarantees & Warranties do you have?
What are the top three composting problems people have in using the UCT?
Questions about the UCT-9
What are the UCT-9's capacities?
What are the UCT-9's weight and dimensions?
How much space does the UCT-9 take?
Can I get a copy of the assembly instructions?
Questions about the UCT-7
What are its capacities?
What are its weight and dimensions??
How much space does it take?
Can I get another copy of the assembly instructions?
How long does it take to make compost?
There is no single answer to this question. Composting time will vary greatly based on many factors including the type of material being used, particle sizes, nitrogen to carbon mix, moisture content, temperature, whether you use a good Compost Starter or Blood Meal, and very important for composting speed is OXYGEN (aeration). Under ideal conditions and with appropriate amendments, you can produce compost in as little as 14-days with the UCT because of its patented core aeration system. For the average person who may not want to bother creating the "ideal" mix, 3-4 weeks is more likely. For people who do not give any attention to what they throw into the unit, have too low of a nitrogen content or use very coarse material... things will still compost but it could take even longer.
What is the differences between the UCT-9 & UCT-7?
The primary difference is just size. Both the UCT-9 and UCT-7 have the same design and patented aeration system. The UCT-9 is larger at 9.5 cu ft capacity and the UCT-7 at 7.3 cu ft. The UCT-9 is made of 100% recycled plastic using an injection mold system for manufacturing. The UCT-7 uses a recycled commodity barrel, has a stand made of Trex-Deck and uses weatherized metal support bars. Both units turn about the same although the UCT-7, being a smaller unit, may turn a little easier for some people. Both are made of Food Grade plastic.
How easy is the UCT to turn?
Both UCTs are relatively easy to turn when following some basic guidelines. First, it should not be overloaded with material and by adding a lot of water. When properly loaded with a 40% nitrogen and 60% carbon mix (by weight), then dampened, the compost batch should typically weight 40-75 lbs. If this weight range is exceeded, the unit will become harder to turn. The second important note in turning the UCT is to rock the barrel back and for a couple times before turning -- using momentum to help turn it and not trying to just "muscle" it around.
Can I buy the UCT locally? (Do you have store-front distributors?)
There are a growing number of garden centers and nurseries that sell the UCT. Look on our Home page, left hand column, for the "Find a Retailer near you" selection."
Do you ship outside the U.S.?
Yes. We have shipped units all over the world including France, Israel, Germany and Japan. Shipping obviously can get expensive but for people who have truly research effectiveness of composters... they want the UCT. For shipping destinations outside the lower 48-states, call our main office for pricing at 541 923-1992.
Do you have a catalog?
No, our Internet site provides all catalog information.
Can I put the UCT indoors?
Only with care. Remember, the process of composting is the processes of decomposition of material which emits gases. Some of these gases are odorless so you may not even notice them. However, they could pose health issues for some people with long term exposure. If placed indoors, it should be in a well ventilated area.
Can I leave the UCT outside all winter?
It shouldn't hurt the UCT to leave it outdoors year around. However, in areas with very harsh winters, consider throwing a tarp over it for added protection. You can compost year around, but once the temperature drops below 45 degrees you can expect composting to slow down. Naturally at freezing temperatures it virtually stops. A lot of very moist material packed into the UCT in freezing weather could damage the barrel or aeration tube. Also if you tumble the unit with large pieces of heavy frozen material you could damage the unit as it bangs around.
What kind of Guarantees & Warranties do you have?
Customer satisfaction is our highest priority so our policies in this area is very straight forward. If within 60-days of purchase, a customer is not satisfied with a UCT-9 or UCT-7 for ANY reason, they may return it for a full refund of purchase price. We provide a 10-year warranty on the UCT-9 and a 5-year warranty on the UCT-7, one of the longest on the market, as the UCT is a quality product designed for long term use.
What are the top four composting problems people have in using the UCT?
The #1 problem we see is failure to have enough carbon material in the mix. By weight, a 40% nitrogen (green material) and 60% carbon (brown material) usually works well although some people even use a 30%/70% ratio. People that have wet mixtures, develop little balls of material, or smell real bad usually have too much nitrogen in their mix (*).
The #2 problem we see is having the content either too wet or too dry. Composting material should be wet to the touch but not dripping. It will feel wet, but when squeeze, it will not drip water.
The #3 problem we see is large particle sizes as the material put into the composter are large and/or coarse. While they will still compost… it is will be much slower. The smaller the particle size, the faster and more complete the composting process.
The#4 problem involves the lid not fitting properly on the UCT-9. This is a result of having too much weight in the unit concentrated below the pivot rod. Once the load is in the 40 to 75 lbs range distributed from bottom to top in the barrel, lid fitting problems usually go away.
(*) If you are running short of dry leaves and grass to use for brown material, consider using some peat moss to help out. Peat moss speeds the composting process, reduces odors and helps controls air and water in the compost. Peat moss typically has a pH (3.4 to 4.8); is environmentally friendly and free of insects, weeds, seeds, salts and chemicals, and represents good value. It's always good to have a bail of peat moss around as it's the ideal growing medium for many of your gardening and planting needs as well. Peat moss contains limited nutritional value in itself. However, it is great for absorbing nutrients from surrounding material and helps keep it from leaching away. When using peat moss in your compost, it is an ideal time to consider using soil amendments in your composting process such as alfalfa meal.
What are the UCT-9's capacities?
9.5 cu ft, 7.6 bushels, 71 gallons
How much space does the UCT-9 take?
SHIPPING: Ships in two boxes-
Barrel Box 23 7/8" x 26 1/2" x 28 7/8" weighing 33 lbs
Stand Box 26 1/8" x 33 1/2" x 10 3/4" weighting 34 lbs.
ASSEMBLED UNIT: Width=33" Length=34.25" Height=43" Weight=61 lbs.
How much space does the UCT-9 take?
When assembled, the base of the stand is approximately 33" x 34 1/4". The barrel requires at least 43" to turn making the minimum space to sit and turn the unit 43"x35"
Can I get a copy of the assembly instructions for the UCT-9?
You can view or printout the instructions from here [assembly instruction].
What are the UCT-7's capacities?
7.3 cu ft, 6 bushels, 55 gallons
How much space does the UCT-7 take?
SHIPPING: Barrel is shrink rapped with stand and components inside. Lid unscrews for access.
ASSEMBLED UNIT: Width=24" Length= " Height=44" Weight=35 lbs.
How much space does the UCT-7 take?
Stand footprint = 27"x27" Rotating area = 45"
Can I get a copy of the assembly instructions for the UCT-7?
You can view or printout the instructions from here [assembly instruction].
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