What are the benefits of composting?
20% of the average household bin contains organic material. When sent to landfill this material rots and produces damaging methane gas.
Composting is an effective way to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, and as well as helping the environment you get a useful product to use in your own garden.
Composting is even more environmentally friendly than recycling as no energy is required to transport materials.
What can I put in my composter?
You can compost almost anything that is organic, this includes:
· Fruit and vegetable scraps
· Tea bags, coffee grounds
· Crushed egg shells
· Grass cuttings, dead flowers and leaves
· Small amounts of shredded paper and soft cardboard
· Animal hair
A good mixture of these materials will get the best results. Too much of one material could prevent the composting process from working.
The following should not be put in to your composter:
· Cat or dog excrement
· Meat
· Cheese
· Fish
· Disposable nappies
· Shiny cardboard
· Metal, glass, plastic
· Japanese knotweed
Where is the best place for my composter?
A sunny spot in your garden, preferably out of the wind and on well drained soil. When installing your composter loosen the soil to improve drainage and increase access to worms and other insects.
To work properly the inside of your composter should be warm and moist. As the composting process begins the temperature inside will increase. Always make sure the lid on your composter is closed so the contents don’t dry out.
Turning the material regularly will help air get to the centre of the composter and speed up the composting process.
How do I know when the compost is ready?
Your compost is ready to use when the material does not resemble anything that you put in there. It should be a dark coloured soil, ready to add to your garden.
Most composters have a small hatch at the bottom for you to access the compost.
Do I have to use the green wheeled bin if I have a garden composter?
No, composting at home is by far the best way to deal with organic waste. It means the material doesn’t need to be transported anywhere and all the goodness is returned to your own garden.
Where / how do I buy a garden composter?
Garden composters are available from a number of garden centres or hardware stores. Different sizes are available to suit your own garden.
How can I get more information about how to use a garden composter?
Doncaster Council can provide you with a free booklet “Composting for all”. Please call 01302 736000 to request your copy.
What about cooked food waste or things like meat, fish and cheese. Is there any way I can compost these items?
Kitchen composters or “Bokashi bins” can be used to compost virtually all food waste (cooked or uncooked) including meat, fish and dairy products.
They use natural bran based activators coated in friendly bacteria which start to break down your food waste without producing a smell or attracting flies.
After a few weeks in your kitchen composter mixed with “Bokashi bran” the contents can either be added to your garden composter or buried in to your garden soil where the composting process will complete.