Composting

Composting at home

Composting is a natural process. Bacteria and fungi break down the organic waste and convert it into a rich and useful soil-like material, which is of great benefit to garden and plants.

1. Why Compost

It diverts the waste from landfill sites and prevents the arisings of polluting gases and toxic liquids from these sites.
Reduces the need to use chemical fertilisers in your garden
Saves you money by using home grown compost
It enriches your plants health and growth
It benefits the environment

2. What can you compost?

Kitchen waste, egg shells (crushed), fruit and vegetable peelings and skins, coffee grounds, tea bags
Paper (scrunched up), egg boxes, cereal boxes
Garden waste, grass cuttings (not wet), hedge trimmings, leaves, weeds, woody stems, plants and old soil
Straw
Paper - towels, napkins, bags and packaging (scrunched up)

3. What you cannot compost?

Cooked food, meat, fish, fats
Cheese and dairy products
Cooking oil
Diseased plant materials
Cat and Dog faeces
Newspapers and glossy magazines

4. How to make your own compost?

Four basic ingredients required for composting are:
- Green materials for nitrogen (e.g. grass cuttings, young weeds, fruit & vegetable scraps)
- Brown materials for carbon (e.g. dry leaves, egg boxes and kitchen paper)
- Air
- Water
You need to have a compost heap or a compost bin to start the composting process. Compost bins are widely available from garden centres and DIY outlets.
Place your compost bin or pile on grass or bare earth in a shady location
Start to fill your compost bin with a mixture of browns and greens, aim for a half and half mix.
Chop larger pieces of material if possible
Continue to fill the container as you produce organic waste
Sprinkle with water regularly and ensure to keep the pile moist.
Get some air into the heap at least once every couple of months if possible by mixing the heap with a fork or spade.
Composting can take from 6-18 months, depending on the materials used and time of the year. Decomposition is generally slower in winter.
You can tell when it is ready as the materials will not be recognisable as they turn into dark compost. The finished product will be at the bottom of your heap.

The finished compost will benefit your soil; it increases organic matter, attracts and feeds earthworms, helps reduce soil erosion and increases vitamin and mineral content in food crops.

Visit this website for further information on home composting

http://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council--services/cl/waste-and-cleansing/composting

Other useful links