For those with green thumbs, why not save your greenwaste and make compost? The key to top-notch compost is to keep the micro-organisms that process the waste healthy.  They need food, air, moisture and warmth – just like us!

Getting started

Your compost can be in a freestanding pile or kept in a bin or container.  You could make the container yourself or buy a readymade compost bin at your local hardware or gardening store.

What to put into your compost

• Kitchen scraps, vegetable peelings, tea bags and leaves, coffee grounds, grass clippings, hair, fur, sheep or horse manure, sea weed. (Nitrogen rich materials)
• Paper, sawdust, straw, leaves, cereal boxes, cardboard, napkins, paper towels, tree clippings, vacuum cleaner dust, egg shells, wood ash. (Carbon rich materials)
• Air and water.

What not to put into your compost

• Meat, grease, dairy products, large bones, food packaging, plastics, wood, pest plants, cat and dog faeces.

Tips and tricks

• Make sure your compost bin is in a sheltered area with good drainage and a small amount of sun.
• Encourage worms into the compost by breaking up the soil where the bin will be placed – this will also help with drainage.
• Start with a layer of course materials, such as branches or twigs to help drainage and air flow.
• Turn (or mix up) the compost every 4-6 weeks.
• Cover with soil or some plastic sheeting to retain the warmth and moisture.

Composting - a 'how to' guide - (PDF,  5 MB)