Hi Shelley
We had a Hotbin composter last year. It works very well if you want quick, rough, compost good for mulching etc. If you want fine crumbly compost the slow method is preferable. It’s worth having both.
I’m not sure you need the expensive woodchip that the seller recommends. We used our own for a while then tried without. The result is a bit wet and sticky but heats up quickly and steams. Our mix may not be quite right but I shall work on it.
It works very well until the point where you need to stop filling it and allow it to rot down. Then it can go a bit messy. It also gets lots of worms in it. Not sure how as the bin has a fairly tight-fitting lid and door. This is not a bad thing though as they contribute to the decomposition of the ingredients.
Bearing all these points in mind, I would recommend the Hotbin but have normal composting alongside to supplement it. We have benefitted from the quick mulch material. It is very easy to empty with the removable flap at the front. Bit tight to remove initially but you soon get the hang of it.
Hope this is helpful.
