What is Home Composting?
Composting is one of the easiest, most natural and oldest methods of recycling. Every garden and home has enough waste to produce rich garden compost.Organic waste makes up around 30% of the average household bin. Every person in the UK discards an amount of organic waste equivalent to 2880 banana skins every year. This can easily be composted to make a rich organic product that can be used on your garden.
Compost can be defined as partially decomposed organic matter that comes mainly from plants. Bacteria, fungi and invertebrates break down the organic matter over time. By composting your organic waste and using it in your garden you are returning nutrients to the soil.
You could make your own compost heap or alternatively we have teamed up with Worcestershire County Council to offer compost bins at a special offer price to residents.
What are the Benefits of Home Composting?
- Stops organic waste going to landfill and therefore reduces the amount of harmful gases and chemicals released into the atmosphere
- Reduces the need for chemical fertilisers in your garden
- Reduces the need for use of peat based potting composts, therefore saving this habitat.
What can I Compost?
- Shredded paper and torn card
- Animal bedding
- Dead cut flowers
- Soft hedge clippings
- Leaves
- Grass Cuttings
- Weeds (avoid persistent weeds)
- Egg shells
- Tea bags
- Vegetable peelings
- Fruit
- Contents of Vacuum Cleaner
What materials can I not Compost?
- Meat
- Plate scrapings
- Cooked leftovers
- Coal ash
- Cat and dog litter
- Fish and cheese
How do I make Compost?
It can take between 2 months and a year to make rich garden compost. Factors including the amount of sunlight, the weather, the mixture of organic material and how often the compost is turned will all affect how long it will take. Composted material can be taken from the bottom of the heap allowing the partly composted and newer material to remain.- Put your compost bin in a well-drained area in the garden on bare soil where it is accessible all year round.
- Add your organic material. You should ideally have a 50/50 mixture of green waste such as grass cuttings and brown waste such as card and twigs.
- Turn the compost as often as possible but at least every 2 months.
- Your compost is ready when it is dark in colour and has an earthy smell.
Top tips to speed up Composting
- Chop or shred tough stems or prunings.
- Keep the compost moist by adding a little water if necessary. It should be as damp as a wrung-out sponge.
- Keep it warm, cover in the winter with a carpet.
- Add large amounts of material at once but make sure you have a good mixture.
- Young nettles are an excellent natural accelerator.
