Composting

The key to a good compost lies in getting the mix right, you need a good balance of "greens" and "browns" and keep certain items out. If your compost is too wet add more browns, if it is to dry add more greens. Air is also essential to the process so give it a good stir to create air pockets.

Greens (high in nitrogen)

• grass cuttings
• tea bags
• vegetable peelings
• salad leaves
• fruit scraps
• old flowers
• nettles
• coffee grounds and filter paper
• old bedding plants
• horse manure

Browns (high in carbon)

• crushed eggshells
• egg boxes
• corrugated cardboard
• garden prunings
• twigs and hedge clippings
• straw and hay
• sawdust
• wool
• feathers
• shredded paper
• ash from wood, paper and lumpwood charcoal

Keep these out

• cooked vegetables
• meat
• dairy products
• diseased plants
• dog poo, cat litter, or baby's nappies

Using your compost

The composting process can take up to 18 months to be ready to use in your garden. Compost is full of nutrients and has many benefits, these include: 

• helping to improve your soil structure
• maintaining moisture levels
• managing your soil’s PH balance
• it also includes nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus to help your plants and flowers

It can be used on flower beds, as mulch and in pots and containers for growing herbs and vegetables.

What does “compostable” really mean?

Compostable means it’s something which will break down completely into non-toxic components that won’t harm the environment, given the right conditions. Compostable is not the same as biodegradable. 

Food items such as apples, eggshells and vegetable peelings can be placed in a home compost bin. These items cannot be placed in the garden waste collection service due to legislation preventing food waste being included in these collections post the Foot and Mouth outbreak in 2000. 

If a product is labelled ‘compostable’, this means it can be composted industrially.  Industrial composting takes place at very high temperatures which accelerates the speed at which products compost.  (For something to be legally labelled compostable, it has to have been certified to break down in industrial composting facilities within 180 days.)

These products cannot be placed into your home compost bin as they can take several years to compost naturally. They cannot be placed into your brown garden waste collection as the composting process takes place outside and can only include garden waste such as plant cuttings and lawn clippings.  

If a product has this logo, it can be put into a home compost bin as it will rot down quickly and doesn’t require high temperatures to enable it to do so.  If you cannot see this logo please put any products in the black bin, even if they say “compostable”.
 

There are many types of compost bins available to suit numerous budgets and they all do the same job; it depends on the size of your garden, what you want to be able to compost and how much effort your want to put into your bin. “Hot” bins and food waste digesters require more attention than a standard “Dalek” compost bin, but can take most types of food so are an ideal way to remove food waste from  your black bin.

Types of bins available

Standard “Dalek” bin

These are the most cost effective and mostly commonly used bins. They are available in two sizes, 220 litre and 330 litres and in two colours; black and green. The Council subsidises the bins and they are available via Get Composting.

Bokashi

This is a composting system that involves using a special bran to start the process of breaking down food prior to putting it in a compost bin. This means you can put cooked and uncooked food into the Bokashi bins. There is also a liquid that can be drained off and used as a fertilizer. Wiggly Wigglers has information on their website about how to start using a Bokashi bin. 

Green Cone

Another bin that allows you to compost all food waste, but this one doesn’t give you compost to use in the garden.  The Green Cone is buried in the ground and the food that you compost fertilizes the soil directly.  For more information visit Green Cone Food Waste Digester.

Green Johanna

This is an “entry level” food waste digester that looks like a standard compost bin but will take all food waste.  For more information visit Green Johanna 330L Litre Hot Compost Bin.

HotBin

These will take any food and garden waste and as they compost at a higher temperature than an average bin (about 90°) it reduces the waste a lot more quickly.  For more information visit Hot Bins Composting.

Wormeries

These use Tiger Worms to munch away at the food waste and turn it into liquid fertilizer.  They are idea for small gardens or balconies in flats as they don’t need a soil base. They do need to be kept warm in the winter and the liquid drained off regularly otherwise the worms will drown! For more information visit Bubble House Worms.

My compost has ‘slowed down’ over recent months

There are a few options to try and speed up the composting process:

• give the contents of the whole bin a good stir as this will incorporate more air into the mix
• if the contents seem dry, add more 'greens' such as fruit and veg peelings, tea leaves and grass cuttings (and some water
• if the contents look wet, add some more 'browns' such as leaves, cardboard, egg boxes and shells and shredded paper
• add some materials which decompose quicker, including comfrey, nettles, and thin layers of grass cuttings to get the process working again

My compost is very dry and grainy

For a quick fix, add some cold water and over time, build up more ‘green’ nitrogen-rich items such as grass cuttings and kitchen peelings to keep moisture levels up.

I’ve put only grass cuttings into my bin and it’s not working

Empty your kitchen caddy along with your garden waste into your compost bin.

A 50:50 mix of ‘greens’ such as fruit and veg peelings, tea leaves/coffee grounds and grass cuttings and ‘browns’ such as leaves, cardboard, egg boxes, eggshells and shredded paper is the perfect recipe for good compost.

You could also add some bulky items such as toilet roll tubes and scrunched up paper into your bin and turn your compost with a garden fork or similar to introduce more air.

Why does my compost bin smell?

Depending on which composting system you are using, this may be because you have incorrectly added cooked food waste, meat, fish or bones. If this is the case it would be best to remove them in the first instance.
Once you have removed any incorrect items it may then be a good idea to give the contents of your compost bin a turn with a garden fork or similar to introduce more air into your bin which will speed up the composting process.

You can also get more air into your compost by mixing bulky items such as toilet roll tubes, cardboard, scrunched up or shredded paper into your bin and by turning your compost with a garden fork or similar.

My compost looks like it has all turned to mush

It sounds like the contents of your compost bin are too wet.

This may be because you have been adding too much ‘green’ materials such as fruit and vegetable peelings and grass in comparison to ‘browns’ such as shredded paper and garden leaves. Try turning your compost and adding more ‘brown’ materials as they are slower to rot, are dryer and will add more structure to your compost.

Why isn’t my compost breaking down?

In order for the compost process to work, it requires four things. Check this list to quick start your bin:

• food - aim for a 50/50 mix of 'greens' such as vegetable and fruit peelings and grass and browns such as shredded paper and garden leaves
• air - all living organisms in your compost bin need air to breath and introducing more air through stirring and adding materials that will provide structure such as sweetcorn cobs will help
• moisture - your compost should be as moist as a wrung-out sponge. If it is too wet it needs more ‘browns’ and if it is too dry you could add some water or add more ‘greens’
• warmth - usually the organisms inside the bin are responsible for this. However, you can help them retain this heat by placing a flattened cardboard box or piece of old carpet on top of the material to insulate it from within

Do compost bins attract rats?

It's a common concern that composting will bring rats into your garden, but it's unlikely that your compost bin will directly attract rats. Rats may already be in the area if you live near water, farmland, open countryside or derelict buildings.

Key things you can do to avoid unwanted wildlife

• avoid putting in cooked food, meat or dairy products (if you are using a standard home compost bin)
• add a good mix of 'greens' and 'browns' to avoid making a dry habitat
• be an active composter – creatures don't like disturbance, noise or changes in the physical environment in the garden
• use a compost bin with a lid rather than a loose heap, making it harder for creatures to gain access
• place the bin away from walls, fences or anywhere that can be a sheltered 'runway'
• use a plastic or wire mesh around the bottom and underneath the compost bin to prevent animals getting in, but still allowing worms to enter the compost bin and providing drainage
• site your bin on a hard surface, such as a concrete paving slab. Plastic bases for standard home composters are also available
• a base can slow down the composting process because worms and other minibeasts can't enter the bin as easily
• consider an alternative type of compost bin such as a Hot Bin or wormery which are fully enclosed and therefore harder for wildlife to enter

I have a lot of small black flies in my bin.

Fruit flies are not harmful to you or your compost. They are drawn to the food waste which they help to break down naturally. If you want to reduce their numbers, leave the lid off your compost bin for 3 to 4 days. If you do this, make sure to cover the surface of the compost so it doesn't dry out.

I've found spiders or ants in my bin. Is this OK?

It is perfectly normal to spot the odd spider in your bin, and to find ants but this could be a sign that your compost is too dry. Try adding some cold water to your bin. Over time, you could also add some more 'green' nitrogen rich items, such as grass cuttings and kitchen peelings, to keep moisture levels up.

If you require specific advice or have issues you wish to discuss please contact letswasteless@worcestershire.gov.uk and one of our experts on composting will be in touch.