Get Composting

Approximately, only 1 in 4 households composts their green waste, yet around 40% of the average waste bin could be composted. Along with other garden waste, this could provide a garden with its own free, organic growing material! If you fancy producing your very own nutrient-rich compost at the same time as being sustainable, then this is definitely worth a go! Worcestershire County Council offer subsidised compost bins from £15.00 to start you on your composting journey.

What is compost? Compost is made up of organic matter - such as fruit, vegetables, leaves, twigs and grass that has broken down in the presence of air, so it is called aerobic decomposition. The breakdown of the materials is carried out by millions of bacteria, fungi and microscopic organisms, as well as ants, worms and other ‘minibeasts’. One gram of compost can be home to millions of microscopic creatures!

Why compost? Each compost bin diverts 150kg of waste a year, creating free, top quality compost at the same time. Emissions from trucks and processing are also reduced and it means less peat compost is being purchased. In the UK, more than 24 million wheelbarrows of peat are used every year. Extracting peat destroys wildlife habitats and releases thousands of tonnes of CO2, something we really need to stop doing in a climate crisis. Making compost is a closed loop cycle: you are the waste producer, processor and user; in other words, you turn your waste into something else which you can then use.

Each year tonnes of home compostable waste are disposed of in residents’ bins, or even worse, the recycling bins, which can contaminate a whole load. This is a waste of a good resource and of taxpayers’ and councils’ money. air, makes it better at holding on to water and stops it from eroding away; so, it’s great to add to the soil in the borders and pots in your garden. It also works well to feed your lawn, as well as fruit bushes and trees.

Where to put the bin The perfect position for a compost bin is ideally in a semi-shaded position on bare earth, but it doesn’t have to be. It is best if water can drain away, but small creatures can get in from underground.

How to Compost The golden rule is to get the right balance of “greens” (which are nitrogen-rich, moist and rot down very quickly) and “browns” (which are carbon-rich but take longer to break down on their own). Get this right and you don’t even need to turn it to add air. If you add too much green or food waste, the contents of your compost bin could become slimy and smelly. Mixing browns to it, provides structure and airflow as well as helping to absorb excessive moisture.

Which bin? There are many different types of compost bin and “hot” bins which compost all food waste. The standard “dalek” bin is the most popular and is subsidised by Worcestershire County Council via Get Composting at www.getcomposting.com.

For more information on composting and the types of bins available please visit www.letswasteless.com or for more indepth advice Garden Organic have lots of information at www.gardenorganic.org.uk n

“GREENS” “BROWNS”

Grass clippings Plant trimmings Weed stalks and leaves (not roots or seeds) Raw fruit and veg scraps Crushed eggshells Hair Poultry manure Flower and plant remains

Straw based manure Vegetarian pet bedding Coffee grounds (loose) and tea bags (not plastic)

Straw Pine needles Wood chips Autumn Leaves Wood prunings Torn cardboard Sawdust Shredded or scrunched

paper Paper towels Egg boxes

Content produced by Elisabeth Johnston Let’s Waste Less in Worcestershire Volunteer

AVOID DEFINITELY NOT

Meat Fish Cooked food Bread Bones Pasta Liquids (custard, gravy etc.) Dairy products Thick woody material Diseased plants Perennial weeds Weed seed heads Receipts Crisp packets Plastic bags Any plastic Milk or juice cartons Cling film Glass Metal Cat and dog poo Nappies Coke and ash