Make Your Own Compost

Millions of tonnes of organic matter is taken to landfill sites in the UK every year.  This includes vegetable matter from kitchens, gardens, the food distribution industry and agriculture.

Organic waste in landfill sites is trapped without air under tonnes of other rubbish, so when it rots it releases methane into the atmosphere.  Methane is a very potent greenhouse gas.  If handled properly, organic waste can yield a valuable garden product – compost.

It is very easy to create compost even in a small garden.  Either purchase a ready made compost bin or better still construct your own out of recycled materials.  The compost bin on show at the One World Festival is constructed out of 3 pallets, some discarded wooden packaging and 2 recycled slate laths.  It has ventilation for the compost heap to breath and is an ideal size for the small household.

The following organic matter is ideal:
  • Vegetable peelings
  • Grass cuttings
  • Weeds
  • Cardboard boxes, egg boxes, toilet roll centres (ideally not printed on)
  • Horse manure
Layer your waste so that not too much of the same material is together.  This prevents the heap putrefying.  Turn the top 12 inches of your heap with a garden fork every couple of weeks to aid the rotting process.  A piece of old carpet on top will keep your heap warm.

The following materials are NOT suitable for the compost heap:
  • Cooked food
  • Meat and dairy products
  • Leaves and hedge clippings
  • Twiggy materials that have not been shredded
  • Virulent weeds such as Mare’s-tail

 

Make your own compost

Produced by                                                                  
New Mills Allotment & Gardening Society
www.newmillsallotments.org.uk     
email:  secretary@newmillsallotments.org.uk

Photo: Rick Seccombe