In the garden
Composting is an easy way to divert green waste away from landfill sites. Garden cuttings, leaves, twigs and grass cuttings together with some kitchen waste can all be recycled, and will eventually turn into a rich compost to improve the quality of the soil in your garden and provide nutrients for your plants.
Here is an easy to follow step-by-step guide to help you get started:
1. Find the right spot
To get the most out of your compost bin, it should ideally sit in a reasonably sunny spot on bare soil, this will help break the compost down by adding heat and allowing worms access to break the compost down.
2. Add the right ingredients
Have a container available, such as a kitchen caddy or old ice cream tub. Fill your container with everything from vegetable and fruit peelings to teabags, toilet roll tubes, cereal boxes and eggshells. Take care not to compost cooked food, meat or fish. Make sure that you have the right mix of 'greens' and 'browns', aim to have a 50/50 ratio.
3. Waiting game
Your compost will take between 9 and 12 months to be ready for use, so let nature do all the work. You should keep on adding ingredients to your bin to top it up.
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4. Ready for use
When your compost is ready, it will be crumbly and dark brown with a fresh, earthy aroma, to remove the compost you should lift the bin slightly, or lift the hatch and remove with a garden fork, shovel, or trowel.
5. Use it
Don’t worry if your compost looks a little lumpy with twigs and bits of eggshell – this is perfectly normal. You can use your compost to enrich borders and vegetable patches, plant up patio containers or feed the lawn.