Guide To Composting
‘Composting’ is essentially the process by which kitchen and garden waste is decomposed to form a rich brown crumbly substance known as compost.
Compost is an organic fertiliser that helps to keep soil healthy and encourages growth in plants. Composting is the ideal way to recycle waste that would otherwise end up on a landfill sight, so not only does it help to keep your garden healthy, but it also works to help preserve the environment. With the invention of the ‘compost bin’, it is now easier than ever for everyone to get the maximum use out of their household waste and it is cheap too.
A compost bin can cost from as little as £5 which is certainly a worthwhile investment for the benefits that it will give to both the environment and your garden. Though there are many things that can go into the compost bin, it is not possible to simply put all household waste in it, a good mixture of dry and moist waste needs to be included. The following guide will tell you the best things to put into your bin in order to give your compost the best diet possible and what to avoid:
DO PUT IN:
Grass cuttings These are one of the best ingredients when making compost as they contain a high level of nitrogen which works as an activator. Ensure that they are mixed in well however to avoid clumping.
Weeds Weeds will help your compost to thrive, though there are some that should be avoided. For example, those that have been treated with pesticides should not be included as well as persistent weeds as they will thrive in the compost conditions and continue to grow.
Paper Although it is generally a better option to recycle paper, if used in small quantities it can help your compost to thrive. Avoid using glossy paper however and try to shred the paper that you do include.
Pet waste This includes the droppings of animals that do not eat meat such as rabbits and guinea pigs and old straw and hay from hutches. The fresher the manure from the animals is, the better it will help the compost.
Kitchen waste Things such as egg shells, tea leaves, coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peelings are all good activators for compost. Make sure that fruit peelings are well buried however in order to discourage fruit flies.
Vacuum waste Unless you have synthetic carpets the dust from a vacuum cleaner is an excellent ingredient for compost.
DO NOT PUT IN:
Human/Animal WasteThe composting process will not necessarily destroy all the pathogens in excrement and so in order to avoid the spread of disease, it is best not to take the risk of including such waste. The same goes for disposable nappies.
Meat Not only will meat cause bad odours but it will also encourage unwanted pests to the compost bin. The same can be said for dairy products.
Plastic/Glass/Metal Materials None of these materials will decompose properly and so should be recycled as normal.
Ashes Including ashes from coal or charcoal means that you are running the risk of including materials that may not be good for the decomposition process and so they are best to be avoided.
Preparing your compost bin:
The following steps will help to ensure that you position your compost bin in a place that will get the best results.
- Position it in a place that gets equal sun and shade. Whilst as much sunshine as possible is needed, you don’t want so much that the compost ends up drying out.
- The bin should be placed on loose soil and near a water source.
- Try and place the bin near your vegetable patch or plants in need of nutrients so that any goodness leaking from the bin will be put to good use.
Top tips on getting the most out of your compost bin
The best conditions for getting the most out of your composting is warmth and moisture and room for air to circulate in order to allow oxygen to get to the compost. In order to do this:
- Try to keep the lid on your bin at all times. Not only will this help to keep warmth and moisture in, but it will also stop any bad odours escaping.
- Try and position your bin out of the wind and in direct sunlight as much as possible in order to get the required high temperature to allow the waste to decompose.
- Although the compost needs sunlight, it also might need some water in very dry periods. Continue keeping the lid on even when it is very dry and water the compost as and when it is needed.
- Activators can help to speed up and heat up the decomposition process which is especially handy when it is particularly cold. Natural activators can be found in substances such as: manure from sheep/cows/horses, droppings from rabbits and guinea pigs, as well as urine and grass cuttings. It is also possible to buy artificial activators from your local garden store though this is not entirely necessary.
- Try not to let the waste in the compost bin become too compressed as this will limit the supply of air that needs to get to the materials in order for them to decompose properly. Turning the material every now and again will ensure that it doesn’t become too compressed.
More Resources:
Water Butts
- Conserve rain water to water your garden
Garden Organic
- Tips and advice on composting
Recycle Now
- Provides details of councils offering low cost composting solutions plus advice on recycling.
Nottinghamshire County Council
- Tips on home composting