Good compost generally takes 3 months to produce during warm weather and 6 months during the winter. It can take up to a year to produce a compost with a really fine consistency.

To Get Started:

• select a site in your garden
• buy a purpose made plastic or wooden container
• or make your own container from wooden pallets
• or scrap timber or build a heap and cover with old carpet or black polythene

For Best Results Your Site Should Be:

• on soil or grass for good drainage and lots of worms
• in a warm spot

To Make Good Compost:

• add your kitchen waste, leaves, grass cuttings etc. in loose layers.  Avoid heavy layers of grass cuttings or leaves
• turn regularly to mix dry and wet materials together to improve air circulation
• keep damp but not wet (add small quantities of water, grass clippings or leafy materials if the compost is drying out)
• keep the compost covered to keep the heat in and speed up the decomposition process
• to speed up the process, add a nitrogen-rich source e.g. farm-yard manure or an activator such as ammonium sulphate

If you have any queries, contact the Waste Management Team.