You will get the best results by gathering up enough varied material and loading the UCT all at once. While it is ok to add material to the UCT as it becomes available, be aware if you do, the overall composting time will take much longer and you will not get the same concentrated heating of the compost batch if you add the material too slowly. Also, continuing to add material to the UCT can be deceptive since the volume of composting materials can drop rapidly. Be careful not to keep putting material in until it is too heavy to easily turn the barrel. Depending on the materials used and particle sizes, it is not uncommon to have a fully loaded UCT weighing 100 lbs or more - compost down to 20 lbs that is about 12" to 15" deep in the bottom of the composter. Empty the compost out and start a new batch… don't just keep adding material. The principle behind the UCT is to fill it all at once and produce a compost batch fast… empty and repeat the process... not to keep loading it with material to create a larger batch. A lot of small batches faster is the key to effectively using the UCT. It can do larger batches but it will take much longer and any tumbler can become too heavy for some people to comfortably turn. Composting with the UCT: Once the unit is filled, screw on the lid and let it sit. At lease weekly, rotate the tumbler 2 or 3 times in each direction - daily rotation is even better. Remember that oxygen is the key to rapid composting. Especially during the first week or so, check to be sure that the material was not packed so tight that it is not mixing when tumbled. If the material can't move around enough to allow fresh oxygen into the mix, composting will be slower. Remember to keep an eye on moisture content. If the material becomes too dry, add water. If it becomes too wet, remove the lid until it dries some. Having two or more UCT's works even better. In effect, you double your capacity with two units and cut your composting time in half. Two units allow you to either load twice as much at one time if you have a lot of material, or to load a unit every 1-2 weeks to have a more even flow of finished compost ready for use.

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