Composting

Why compost?

Composting is a great way of transforming your kitchen and garden waste into a useful resource for your garden. Composting is a natural process where kitchen and garden waste rots down to produce compost, a dark brown earthy material which can be used with in your garden to improve the soil and add nutrients, to help plants and flowers grow.

Another reason to compost is that around 40 per cent of the average dustbin contents are suitable for home-composting so by composting at home it helps cut down on landfill too.

If you need any further information about composting, please visit the Recycle Now website.

Special compost bin offer

To get you started composting, we are pleased to be able to offer you some fantastic savings on home composting bins!

There are many price reductions including

• 330 litre black composter: £28.50
• 220 litre black composter: £25

There are also further savings to be made on water butts, composting accessories and wormeries.

Order now online at www.getcomposting.com or call 0844 571 4444.

How do I compost?

Ideally site your compost bin on bare soil so that the insects that make the compost have easy access to the bin.

Add the right ingredients. Garden waste and biodegradable kitchen waste can be composted. Try to add equal volumes of green and brown materials. Greens are soft, wet materials such as grass cuttings, tea bags and uncooked vegetable peelings. Browns are harder, drier materials such as twigs, straw, paper and hedge cuttings.

Try to ensure that your compost stays moist but not wet - when squeezed in your hand a few drops of water should be produced. Add water and a few more greens if it is too dry, if it is too wet add more brown materials.

It takes 6 to 9 months for the compost to become ready for use. If you want to speed up the process you can add an accelerator, nettles or urine are good natural accelerators to use.

Your compost is ready when it is dark in colour and has an earthy smell. The compost produced is nutrient rich and will help improve your soil. The compost can be used on flower beds, borders, containers or be used as mulch or to feed your lawn.

What can be composted?

Greens

• Grass cuttings 
• Fruit and vegetable peelings 
• Tea bags and coffee grounds 
• Old flowers 
• Bedding plants

Browns

• Garden prunings 
• Leaves 
• Twigs 
• Egg shells 
• Cardboard or paper

What cannot be composted?

• Cooked food waste 
• Dog and cat faeces 
• Meat and fish 
• Sanitary wear and nappies 
• Dairy products