Composting

Home composting helps to protect the environment in a number of ways. It reduces the amount of organic waste that normally goes into your brown bins, which in turn also reduces the number of visits our collection vehicles make to composting sites to unload—reducing fuel and noise pollution. Home composting has been practiced for many years, and provides a dark, soil-like substance that is used to enrich garden soil and nourish houseplants. Every bit of household waste that is composted reduces the need for landfills, making our environment greener and cleaner. By producing your own compost it also avoids dependency on chemical-based composts.

The Slim Your Bin campaign actively encourages householders to get composting—they are eager to get the message across that compost made from kitchen and garden waste can be added to your soil at any time to improve its structure, and to add moisture and nutrient content. Mixed with garden soil and sharp sand you can even use it in window boxes and similar plant containers.

Composting kits are now available at affordable prices. The kits all come complete with full operating instructions and can take all the waste you normally put in your brown bin—except—cooked foods, large un-chopped branches, large amounts of cardboard, certain weeds and ash.

Please click here for more information on Composting kits.

 

 

Why Compost at Home?

• Homemade compost improves the quality of your garden soil, helping it to retain moisture and support healthy plant growth.
• Composting at home is an ideal way to recycle your garden and kitchen waste, reducing the amount of rubbish in your grey/brown bins.
• Up to a third of the contents of a typical dustbin is compostable.

 

Homemade compost can be used instead of shop bought peat-based compost, helping to preserve valuable peat land habitat.

What Can I Compost?

Uncooked kitchen waste e.g. fruit and vegetable peelings, tea bags, egg shells, coffee grounds.
Garden wastes e.g. grass clippings, prunings hedge clippings, weeds, dead plants, fallen leaves.
Shredded newspaper, cardboard, egg boxes, kitchen paper.
Vegetarian animal bedding e.g. Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Hamsters.

What Can’t Be Composted?

Metals, plastic, glass.
Diseased plants.
Nappies.
Cat or dog faeces, cat litter.
Barbecue or coal ash.
Cooked food, plate scrapings, meat, fish, dairy products.

How Long Does It Take?

Anything from six weeks to a year, depending on the time of year and the types of materials added. Softer items such as grass decompose faster than woody material but both types should be added to ensure a good mix.

Do I Need To Add Any Chemicals?

No, accelerators or enhancers are not necessary as the required enzymes and bacteria are naturally occurring and plentiful within your compost bin

Does It Smell?

It should not smell, however, if the bin is stuffed with grass clippings it may do. To prevent this add a layer of torn newspaper, card, straw or hedge clippings to every bin liner of grass added and the problem should not occur.

Home Composting Tips

Position of composter

Placing the composter in the sun will increase the temperature inside the unit, which accelerates the composting process. The unit should be placed directly on the earth or grass not on concrete or slabs.

Common Problems

Unpleasant Odours

Compost may be too compacted. Lift layers with a fork or stick to add air and reduce odour.

Compost Too Dry

Simply turn the material with a garden fork or stick, adding water while you do so.

Compost Wet and Slimy

Perhaps too much green waste has been added. Mix in some woody materials, straw or newspaper.

If you would like further information please Contact Us.