Recycling At Home - Composting
Did you know that home-made compost is a great soil conditioner and plant food? And that good compost will take about six months to produce if you turn it regularly?Reasons to Compost -
Organic household waste is food and garden waste. Organic waste is a problem if sent to landfill, because it is impossible to separate out from other waste once mingled, and will rot producing methane, a greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. Home composting reduces the transport costs of taking waste away for landfill; it also reduces the need for householders to buy so much compost
What Materials Can I Compost?
A large proportion of kitchen and garden waste can be used to make compost. Vegetable peelings, fruit waste, crushed eggshells and tea bags can all be composted. Most garden waste can be included too; grass cuttings and shredded twigs, prunings and cuttings, and fallen leaves are all OK.
Cardboard egg boxes and scrunched up paper can also be added. Waste paper including tissues, kitchen towels, newspaper, printer paper, corrugated paper/card and cardboard should all be torn up, crumpled and well mixed in with the rest of the compost. All of the material mentioned here can be used to make home compost, or can be sent to a recycling centre for commercial composting schemes.
What Materials Cannot be Composted?
The following will give you guidance as to what should not be included in your compost:-
Meat, fish, dairy produce, egg, fat, cake, bread, biscuits, pastry and things containing these, as they rot and attract vermin. Do not include any cooked food for the same reason.
Tomato plants and the tops of potato plants as they can transmit disease, although the actual tomatoes and potatoes can be included.
Cat and dog faeces as this carries and transmits disease.
Plastics, shiny papers and card should not be added.
Coarse cuttings, prunings, stalks and twigs, as they need to be shredded otherwise they take too long to decompose.
Large roots or roots of weeds as these will re-grow and be a pest.
Diseased plants or leaves, such as those with black spot, mildew or other visible diseases.
Grass cuttings, moss or other garden waste recently treated with chemicals; you should follow instructions on the packet/tin etc regarding composting following treatment.
Soil - small quantities are acceptable, and may be beneficial if well distributed, but you should shake or knock excess soil off plant roots before composting them.
A large proportion of kitchen and garden waste can be used to make compost. Vegetable peelings, fruit waste, crushed eggshells and tea bags can all be composted. Most garden waste can be included too; grass cuttings and shredded twigs, prunings and cuttings, and fallen leaves are all OK.
Cardboard egg boxes and scrunched up paper can also be added. Waste paper including tissues, kitchen towels, newspaper, printer paper, corrugated paper/card and cardboard should all be torn up, crumpled and well mixed in with the rest of the compost. All of the material mentioned here can be used to make home compost, or can be sent to a recycling centre for commercial composting schemes.
What Materials Cannot be Composted?
The following will give you guidance as to what should not be included in your compost:-
Meat, fish, dairy produce, egg, fat, cake, bread, biscuits, pastry and things containing these, as they rot and attract vermin. Do not include any cooked food for the same reason.
Tomato plants and the tops of potato plants as they can transmit disease, although the actual tomatoes and potatoes can be included.
Cat and dog faeces as this carries and transmits disease.
Plastics, shiny papers and card should not be added.
Coarse cuttings, prunings, stalks and twigs, as they need to be shredded otherwise they take too long to decompose.
Large roots or roots of weeds as these will re-grow and be a pest.
Diseased plants or leaves, such as those with black spot, mildew or other visible diseases.
Grass cuttings, moss or other garden waste recently treated with chemicals; you should follow instructions on the packet/tin etc regarding composting following treatment.
Soil - small quantities are acceptable, and may be beneficial if well distributed, but you should shake or knock excess soil off plant roots before composting them.
How Do I Compost?
The best way to dispose of organic waste is to compost it either through a centralised composting scheme run by your council, or at home. Check whether your council has facilities for taking garden waste for composting, or you may be able to separate kitchen waste for a kerbside collection scheme if one exists in your area. Alternatively, build or invest in a home composter for the garden or try a worm bin for indoor use! Check to see if your council supplies reduced-cost recycling bins.
The best way to dispose of organic waste is to compost it either through a centralised composting scheme run by your council, or at home. Check whether your council has facilities for taking garden waste for composting, or you may be able to separate kitchen waste for a kerbside collection scheme if one exists in your area. Alternatively, build or invest in a home composter for the garden or try a worm bin for indoor use! Check to see if your council supplies reduced-cost recycling bins.
Home composting is actually at the top of the waste agenda for composting generally because it cuts down on transport costs and uses the waste where it is generated with very little environmental impact. It is not unusual, however, for new composters to have problems or unrealistic expectations and to become disillusioned. It is, however, worth persevering with home composting, as it is very satisfying to produce your own source of compost to use whenever you need it in the garden.
