Kitchen and garden waste are both suitable for composting. The resulting waste can be used as compost in your garden

The following is a step by step guide to setting up a compost system:

1. Get a compost bin. Preferably choose a bin with an open base.
2. If placed in a sunny spot, the composting process will be faster than if placed in shade.
3. If possible, place the bin directly onto the soil. This will enable worms to work their way into the compost bin. The soil also contains helpful bacteria which will speed up the process.
4. Add some twiggy branches on the bare soil as this will allow air to enter from the base of the bin and allows better drainage.
5. A small quantity of farmyard manure at this stage can make your system more efficient but is not essential.
6. Now you are ready to add suitable waste; There are 2 types
a. House and kitchen. See list below.
b. Garden waste. See below for list. Cut everything up finely as possible. Consider getting a garden waste shredder.
7. Don’t add large quantities of one type of waste at any one time. They need a balanced ‘diet’.
8. If you think the bacteria and worms are not working quickly enough, consider getting a proprietary compost maker from your garden centre.
9. The closer the bin is to the house, the more likely you are to use it.
10. You will know the compost is ready to use when it becomes odourless and has a consistency like moss peat. You can then begin using the matured compost in your garden.

Things you can compost

House and Kitchen Waste
Fruit and vegetables
Kitchen paper and newspaper
Stale bread
Sawdust, wood shavings and straw
Tea bags and coffee
Crushed egg shells
Hair
Garden Waste:
Grass cuttings (not too much) leaves, weeds (but not weed seeds)
Twigs and branches (cut into pieces)
Dead plants and flowers

Things you can’t compost
Meat, poultry or fish
Dairy products or anything greasy
Glossy paper or anything not biodegradable