For those with green thumbs, why not save your greenwaste and make compost? The key to top-notch compost is to keep the micro-organisms that process the waste healthy. They need food, air, moisture and warmth – just like us!
Getting started
Your compost can be in a freestanding pile or kept in a bin or container. You could make the container yourself or buy a readymade compost bin at your local hardware or gardening store.
What to put into your compost
- Kitchen scraps, vegetable peelings, tea bags and leaves, coffee grounds, grass clippings, hair, fur, sheep or horse manure, sea weed. (Nitrogen rich materials)
- Paper, sawdust, straw, leaves, cereal boxes, cardboard, napkins, paper towels, tree clippings, vacuum cleaner dust, egg shells, wood ash. (Carbon rich materials)
- Air and water.
What not to put into your compost
- Meat, grease, dairy products, large bones, food packaging, plastics, wood, pest plants, cat and dog faeces.
Tips and tricks
- Make sure your compost bin is in a sheltered area with good drainage and a small amount of sun.
- Encourage worms into the compost by breaking up the soil where the bin will be placed – this will also help with drainage.
- Start with a layer of course materials, such as branches or twigs to help drainage and air flow.
- Turn (or mix up) the compost every 4-6 weeks.
- Cover with soil or some plastic sheeting to retain the warmth and moisture.
Composting - a 'how to' guide - (PDF, 1 MB)