Biovator Rotating Drum Composter
The Biovator Rotating Drum Composter is positioned as a best-in-class solution for barn manure because its continuously rotating drum delivers highly uniform mixing, rapid pathogen reduction and reliable odor control at high throughput. Compared with the simpler tubs and pod systems in this list, Biovator demands higher upfront capital but lowers labor and curing time through automation and efficient aeration, making it the most technically advanced choice for medium-to-large barns prioritizing operational efficiency and fast turnaround.
Rapid drum mixing
Low-lift loading
Rapid drum mixing
Low-lift loading
Review Summary
"Users praise its robust rotating design and fast, consistent composting of barn manure with reliable support; common complaints are the high upfront cost and occasional mechanical maintenance."
Merry-go-round spin
Rotating drum design promotes uniform mixing and accelerates composting of high‑moisture barn manure.
Merry-go-round spin
Rotating drum design promotes uniform mixing and accelerates composting of high‑moisture barn manure.
Eco-Friendly Living
Time-Saving Convenience
Skill Development & Mastery
The Biovator Rotating Drum Composter is positioned as a best-in-class solution for barn manure because its continuously rotating drum delivers highly uniform mixing, rapid pathogen reduction and reliable odor control at high throughput. Compared with the simpler tubs and pod systems in this list, Biovator demands higher upfront capital but lowers labor and curing time through automation and efficient aeration, making it the most technically advanced choice for medium-to-large barns prioritizing operational efficiency and fast turnaround.
Rapid drum mixing
Low-lift loading
Merry-go-round spin
Rotating drum design promotes uniform mixing and accelerates composting of high‑moisture barn manure.
Enclosed vessel with controllable residence time and aeration to support thermophilic composting when operated to recommended protocols.
Rapid drum mixing
Low-lift loading
Merry-go-round spin
Rotating drum design promotes uniform mixing and accelerates composting of high‑moisture barn manure.
Enclosed vessel with controllable residence time and aeration to support thermophilic composting when operated to recommended protocols.
$30,000-80,000 USD
Green Mountain Technologies Earth Tub
The Green Mountain Technologies Earth Tub is a rugged, low-complexity in-vessel option well suited to small and mid-size barns that need dependable composting without major capital expense. Compared with the automated drum and reactor systems here, the Earth Tub trades some speed and sensor-driven control for lower purchase price, simpler maintenance and predictable operating costs, making it a strong financial choice for farms focused on minimizing CAPEX and hands-on upkeep.
All-season insulation
Odor suppression
All-season insulation
Odor suppression
Review Summary
"Owners report solid aeration and ease of use for medium-sized farms with consistent results, but note limited capacity for large operations and some wear on moving parts over time."
Door-friendly access
Compact in‑vessel tub with passive aeration suitable for small to medium barns and lower capital cost.
Door-friendly access
Compact in‑vessel tub with passive aeration suitable for small to medium barns and lower capital cost.
Eco-Friendly Living
Time-Saving Convenience
The Green Mountain Technologies Earth Tub is a rugged, low-complexity in-vessel option well suited to small and mid-size barns that need dependable composting without major capital expense. Compared with the automated drum and reactor systems here, the Earth Tub trades some speed and sensor-driven control for lower purchase price, simpler maintenance and predictable operating costs, making it a strong financial choice for farms focused on minimizing CAPEX and hands-on upkeep.
All-season insulation
Odor suppression
Door-friendly access
Compact in‑vessel tub with passive aeration suitable for small to medium barns and lower capital cost.
Simple operation with long residence times and minimal mechanical parts, lowering routine maintenance needs.
All-season insulation
Odor suppression
Door-friendly access
Compact in‑vessel tub with passive aeration suitable for small to medium barns and lower capital cost.
Simple operation with long residence times and minimal mechanical parts, lowering routine maintenance needs.
$8,000-25,000 USD
Ag-Bag EcoPOD In-Vessel Composter
The Ag-Bag EcoPOD offers a modular, sealed in-vessel approach that balances cost-effectiveness with containment for odorous, high-moisture barn manure streams. It undercuts the larger bio-reactor and drum systems on initial investment and allows incremental expansion, while providing better leachate and odor control than open systems—an attractive trade-off for producers seeking scalable, lower-capex solutions without sacrificing regulatory control.
Modular scaling
High-volume handling
Modular scaling
High-volume handling
Review Summary
"Farmers like its enclosed design for odor control and biosecurity and say it handles manure well, while critiques focus on price, installation needs, and a limited dealer network for service."
Vault-like sealing
Modular in‑vessel units designed to scale across multiple barns and integrate with existing manure handling workflows.
Vault-like sealing
Modular in‑vessel units designed to scale across multiple barns and integrate with existing manure handling workflows.
Eco-Friendly Living
Time-Saving Convenience
Skill Development & Mastery
The Ag-Bag EcoPOD offers a modular, sealed in-vessel approach that balances cost-effectiveness with containment for odorous, high-moisture barn manure streams. It undercuts the larger bio-reactor and drum systems on initial investment and allows incremental expansion, while providing better leachate and odor control than open systems—an attractive trade-off for producers seeking scalable, lower-capex solutions without sacrificing regulatory control.
Modular scaling
High-volume handling
Vault-like sealing
Modular in‑vessel units designed to scale across multiple barns and integrate with existing manure handling workflows.
Active aeration and temperature monitoring enable faster turnover and improved pathogen mitigation compared with passive systems.
Modular scaling
High-volume handling
Vault-like sealing
Modular in‑vessel units designed to scale across multiple barns and integrate with existing manure handling workflows.
Active aeration and temperature monitoring enable faster turnover and improved pathogen mitigation compared with passive systems.
$40,000-120,000 USD
Nioex BioReactor System
The Nioex BioReactor System is a high-performance, sensor-driven reactor engineered for large-scale manure management and nutrient recovery, offering tight process control, energy integration and advanced pathogen mitigation. Though it has the highest capital cost of the group, its superior automation, data-driven optimization and potential for energy or nutrient off-take make it the best technical and long-term financial investment for intensive operations and farms facing stringent performance or sustainability targets.
Automated aeration
Industrial throughput
Automated aeration
Industrial throughput
Review Summary
"Reviewers appreciate its advanced process controls and rapid pathogen reduction, but many mention a steep learning curve, high capital cost, and occasional software or service issues."
Microbe party
Engineered as a high‑capacity aerobic bioreactor for large operations with continuous or high‑throughput batch processing.
Microbe party
Engineered as a high‑capacity aerobic bioreactor for large operations with continuous or high‑throughput batch processing.
Eco-Friendly Living
Time-Saving Convenience
Skill Development & Mastery
The Nioex BioReactor System is a high-performance, sensor-driven reactor engineered for large-scale manure management and nutrient recovery, offering tight process control, energy integration and advanced pathogen mitigation. Though it has the highest capital cost of the group, its superior automation, data-driven optimization and potential for energy or nutrient off-take make it the best technical and long-term financial investment for intensive operations and farms facing stringent performance or sustainability targets.
Automated aeration
Industrial throughput
Microbe party
Engineered as a high‑capacity aerobic bioreactor for large operations with continuous or high‑throughput batch processing.
Advanced process controls for forced aeration, moisture management, and automated monitoring optimize decomposition and operational consistency.
Automated aeration
Industrial throughput
Microbe party
Engineered as a high‑capacity aerobic bioreactor for large operations with continuous or high‑throughput batch processing.
Advanced process controls for forced aeration, moisture management, and automated monitoring optimize decomposition and operational consistency.
$150,000-600,000 USD
Wright Environmental TMDL Composter
The Wright Environmental TMDL Composter is designed specifically for barn manure programs where watershed protection and TMDL compliance drive equipment selection, combining targeted nutrient management with composting in a mid-cost package. It is less automated than the top-end reactors but provides specialized engineering, reporting and runoff controls that reduce permitting risk and potential regulatory fines, making it a practical market-leader for farms operating in regulated catchments.
Nutrient-optimized
Regulatory compliant
Nutrient-optimized
Regulatory compliant
Review Summary
"Users value its regulatory compliance, heavy-duty construction and reliable long-term operation for manure management, though note it is costly, bulky, and requires regular servicing."
Runoff-to-gold
Designed to support TMDL and water‑quality objectives with robust leachate containment and runoff controls.
Runoff-to-gold
Designed to support TMDL and water‑quality objectives with robust leachate containment and runoff controls.
Eco-Friendly Living
Skill Development & Mastery
The Wright Environmental TMDL Composter is designed specifically for barn manure programs where watershed protection and TMDL compliance drive equipment selection, combining targeted nutrient management with composting in a mid-cost package. It is less automated than the top-end reactors but provides specialized engineering, reporting and runoff controls that reduce permitting risk and potential regulatory fines, making it a practical market-leader for farms operating in regulated catchments.
Nutrient-optimized
Regulatory compliant
Runoff-to-gold
Designed to support TMDL and water‑quality objectives with robust leachate containment and runoff controls.
In‑vessel design offers controlled aeration and temperature profiling to reduce pathogens and limit nutrient losses to meet regulatory expectations.
Nutrient-optimized
Regulatory compliant
Runoff-to-gold
Designed to support TMDL and water‑quality objectives with robust leachate containment and runoff controls.
In‑vessel design offers controlled aeration and temperature profiling to reduce pathogens and limit nutrient losses to meet regulatory expectations.
$60,000-220,000 USD