This was the first thing I've done with these types of containers. I've heard they have that problem with breaking down in the sunlight. I'm not too worried about it though, since they were free and the people who gave them to me have a couple more of them they're throwing out every month. If they degrade enough to start failing I'll just switch them out with new ones. The dark color of the barrels is something that has occurred to me, as far as getting the heat up (or blocking the bacteria killing UV light?). That will probably be the next modification I try, and you're right, it probably would even help with the longevity. I'll probably update it on this site as I go. Thanks for the word.

I'm not sure about the shimmer part. Does that mean it's glossy? That would probably reflect some of the heat. Epoxy base sounds good. I doubt much would adhere well to that plastic. This project is sort of on hold right now though, I've found that a simple pile works well enough for me. I'm currently more concerned with building some kind of rainwater catchment/distribution system.

Thanks. I'd say it took somewhere around ten hours to put together, but that's mostly because I was sort of making it up as I went along and had to go back and correct a couple flaws. I think it could be done in half the time, or less, without too much trouble. Especially if you've got templates or patterns for the wood cuts. As far as speeding up the decomposition of material, I'm sorry to say, I'm not sure. I moved to a new place a couple weeks ago and have been totally neglecting my compost(er). Honestly, I don't even remember when I last put stuff in it, and I haven't checked on it for two weeks or so. I'm starting to get settled now though, and plan on getting back to it. Especially since the new place has a garden about 3 times bigger than the one I put together at my last place! Another thing which should make a difference, I ordered a mulcher the other day, so I plan to run most of my composting materials through it before putting them in the containers (some of it I'll probably just dump on the garden too). I think some of the grass I put in last time was too bushy to get and stay good and moist and rotty.

Thanks a lot, I appreciate the feedback. I like the idea of the piles. While building this I noticed an issue with vertical/lateral stabilization until I tacked a piece of plywood across the back of the supports (which worked surprisingly well). The embedded posts would certainly help with that, as well as saving both materials and space. One reason I designed it this way though was so that it would be more mobile. Right now, when it's empty, I can actually lift it up and move it around by myself. It's pretty cumbersome, but the whole thing probably weighs no more than 50 pounds. As for the height, there are a couple reasons. The way it's set up in the primary picture, you would be loading your compost materials into the lower container. It's right about waist height, maybe a little lower. I thought this would be a convienient height for walking up with a pail of vegetable trimmings and dumping them in, and it's not too high for shoveling either. The other benefit is that a wheelbarrow will fit beneath that lower container, so when the compost is ready you can just dump it right in and take it away to the garden or wherever.